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THE  NOVELS 

OF 

CAPTAIN   MARRYAT 

EDITKD    BY 

R.  BRIMLEY    JOHNSON 


This  Edition  of  Captain  Marry af  s  Novels, 

fnade  exclusively  for  members  of  the 

NEW  rORK  TACHr  CLUB 

is  strictly  limited  to  one  hundred  copies. 


'-€:^^U?^£U.*^i'-^^aj 


Copy  No.  /  5 
PRINTED  FOR 
H.  A.  VAN  LIEJV,  Esq. 


NEW  YORK  YACHT  CLUB  EDITION 


■3r 


JACOB    FAITHFUL 


BY 

CAPTAIN   MARRYAT 


NEW  YORK 

CROSCUP  AND   COMPANY 

MDCCCXCVI 


Contents 


Chapter 

I 

Chapter 

II 

Chapter 

III 

Chapter 

IV 

Chapter 

V 

Chapter 

VI 

Chapter 

vn 

Chapter 

VIII 

Chapter 

IX 

Chapter 

X 

Chapter 

XI 

Chapter 

XII 

Chapter 

XIII 

Chapter 

XIV 

Chapter 

XV 

Chapter 

XVI 

Chapter 

XVII 

Chapter 

XVIII 

Chapter 

XIX 

Chapter 

XX 

Chapter 

XXI 

Chapter 

XXII 

PAGE 
I 

lO 
21 

27 

37 
48 

59 
67 
76 
86 

97 
105 

113 
121 
129 
136 
144 

155 
166 
176 
186 
199 


VI 


Contents 


Chapter 

xxni    . 

Chapter 

XXIV     . 

Chapter 

XXV      . 

Chapter 

XXVI     . 

Chapter 

XXVII    . 

Chapter 

xxvin . 

Chapter 

XXIX     . 

Chapter 

XXX       . 

Chapter 

XXXI      . 

Chapter 

XXXII    . 

Chapter 

XXXIII  . 

Chapter 

XXXIV  . 

Chapter 

XXXV    . 

Chapter 

XXXVI  . 

Chapter 

XXXVII 

Chapter 

XXXVIII 

Chapter 

XXXIX  . 

Chapter 

XL 

Chapter 

XLI 

Chapter 

XLII       . 

Chapter 

XLIII     . 

Chapter 

XLIV     . 

Chapter 

XLV       . 

Chapter 

XLVI     . 

PAGE 

207 
215 
225 
240 
250 
260 

284 
295 
302 

321 

333 

343 

352 
361 

373 
381 
388 

398 

403 
411 
419 


List  of  Etchings 


Fleming,  perceiving  that  we  should  be  masters,  took  a 

PISTOL  FROM  HIS  POCKET         ,  ,  .  Frontispiece 

PAGE 

"That's  too  much,  you  rascal!  "  cried  his  father  .         77 

Sarah  touched  my  other  listless  hand  .  .  .163 

"  Now,  IF  you  refuse  to  drink  it,  after  I  have  tasted 

IT,  I'll  never  speak  to  you  again  "  .  .        230 

I    LAID    IN    MY    sculls,    AND    HELD    ON,    STANDING    UP    IN    THE 

boat  ......       303 

«  To    them,"    CONTINUED    MaRY,    FALLING    DOWN    UPON    HER 

KNEES,   "TO  THEM   I    MUST  KNEEL  FOR  PARDON  "  .  4I7 

Dranvn  by  W.  Downing. 
Etched  by  W.  Wright- Nooth. 


rW 


Prefatory    Note 


There  are  readers  who  consider  Jacob  Faithful  the  best 
of  Marryat's  novels,  and  it  certainly  takes  high  rank  in 
that  goodly  company.  Leaving  salt  water  for  fresh,  the 
Captain  describes,  with  genial  optimism,  the  strange  and 
exciting  river  life  of  his  day,*  more  sternly  and,  of  course, 
more  accurately  recorded  in  Colquhoun's  Treatise  on  the 
Commerce  and  Police  of  the  River  Thames,  1800. 

Although  occasionally,  from  his  intimate  personal  know- 
ledge and  deep  interest  in  all  the  details  of  a  sailor's 
experience,  almost  forced  into  realism,  Marryat  was  not  a 
realist ;  and  Jacob's  adventures,  got  up  at  second-hand, 
possess  a  dash  of  romanticism  that  led  Thackeray,  most 
kindly  of  critics,  to  associate  them  with  Vingt  ans  Pres : — 
**  So  is  the  author  who  excites  and  interests  you  worthy 
of  your  thanks  and  benedictions.  I  am  troubled  with 
fever  and  ague,  that  seizes  me  at  odd  intervals  and 
prostrates  me  for  a  day.  There  is  a  cold  fit,  for  which, 
I  am  thankful  to  say,  hot  brandy-and-water  is  prescribed, 
and  this  induces  a  hot  fit,  and  so  on.  In  one  or  two  of 
these  fits  I  have  read  novels  with  the  most  fearful  con- 
tentment of  mind.  Once,  on  the  Mississippi,  it  was  my 
dearly-beloved  Jacob  Faithful;  once,  at  Frankfort-on-Maine, 
the  delightful  Vingt  ans  Pres  of  Mons.  Dumas  j  once,  at 
Tunbridge  Wells,  the  thrilling  Woman  in  White ;  and  these 
books  gave  me  amusement  from  morning  till  sunset.  I 
remember  those  ague  fits  with  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  and 
gratitude." — De  Finibus,  "  Roundabout  Papers." 

In  Jacob  Faithful  there   is   less   of  Smollet,   to  whom 

*  The  subject  is  revived  in  Poor  Jack, 


X  Prefatory  Note 

Marryat  has  been  so  frequently  compared,  than  of  Sterne, 
— "  a  frisk  on  middle,  -y^ry  middle  earth,  a  hunt  in  curiosity 
shops,  a  peep  into  all  manner  of  coulisses  and  behind  scenes 
of  human  nature,  a  ride  on  a  sort  of  intellectual  switch- 
back, a  view  of  moral,  mental,  religious,  sentimental 
dancing  of  all  kinds  that  have  delighted  man,  from  the 
rope  to  the  skirt."  * 

In  one  word,  it  is  a  novel  of  "  humours," — the  songs 
of  old  Tom,  the  "  human  nature  "  of  Stapleton,  Captain 
MacLean's  "  I  like,"  and  that  mighty  trumpeter  the  nose  of 
Domine  Dobiensis,  himself  a  reminiscence.  Mary  Stapleton 
alone  has  character,  and  she  retains  her  charm  throughout 
a  most  reckless  course  of  jilting.  Jacob  betrays  a  touch  of 
the  snob  by  preferring  his  master's  daughter. 

The  book  fulfils  the  requirements  of  its  class  by  being 
thoroughly  interesting  and  lively ;  though  we  could  spare 
the  frequent  puns,  for  which  indeed  the  taste  of  his 
generation,  perpetually  tickled  by  Theodore  Hook,  is  more 
responsible  than  the  author.  The  story  of  a  handsome 
youth's  rise  from  absolute  poverty  to  wealth  and  happiness 
was  a  favourite  one  with  Marryat,  and  becomes,  in  his 
hands,  sufficiently  probable  for  the  world  of  romance. 
Jacob's  luck  is  amusing  and  not  offensive. 

Jacob  Faithful  is  here  reprinted  from  the  first  edition,  in 
3  vols.,  Saunders  and  Otley,  1834.  The  spelling  has  been 
modernised  except  in  the  word  "  Domine." 

R.  B.  J. 

*  Prof.  Saintsbury,  "  Introduction  to  Tristram  Shandy." 


Jacob  Faithful 


Chapter  I 

My  Birth,  Parentage,  and  Fannily  Pretensions — Unfortunately,  I  prove  to 
be  a  Detrimental  or  Younger  Son,  which  is  remedied  by  a  trifling 
accident — I  hardly  receive  the  first  elements  of  science  from  my  Father, 
when  the  elements  conspire  against  me,  and  I  am  left  an  Orphan, 

Gentle  reader,  I  was  born  upon  the  water —  not  upon  the 
salt  and  angry  ocean,  but  upon  the  fresh  and  rapid-flowing 
river.  It  was  in  a  floating  sort  of  box,  called  a  lighter, 
and  upon  the  River  Thames,  at  low  water,  that  I  first 
smelt  the  mud.  This  lighter  was  manned  (an  expression 
amounting  to  bullism,  if  not  construed  kind-ly)  by  my 
father,  my  mother,  and  your  humble  servant.  My  father 
had  the  sole  charge — he  was  monarch  of  the  deck :  my 
mother  of  course  was  queen,  and  I  was  the  heir-apparent. 

Before  I  say  one  word  about  myself,  allow  me  dutifully 
to  describe  my  parents.  First,  then,  I  will  portray  my 
queen  mother.  Report  says,  that  when  first  she  came  on 
board  of  the  lighter,  a  lighter  figure  and  a  hghter  step 
never  pressed  a  plank ;  but  as  far  as  I  can  tax  my  recollec- 
tion, she  was  always  a  fat,  unwieldy  woman.  Locomotion 
was  not  to  her  taste — gin  was.  She  seldom  quitted  the 
cabin — never  quitted  the  lighter  :  a  pair  of  shoes  may  have 
lasted  her  for  five  years,  for  the  wear  and  tear  that  she  took 
out  of  them.  Being  of  this  domestic  habit,  as  all  married 
women  ought  to  be,  she  was  always  to  be  found  when 
wanted ;  but,  although  always  at  hand,  she  was  not  always 
on  her  feet.     Towards  the  close  of  the  day,  she  lay  down 

J.F.  A 


2  Jacob  Faithful 

upon  her  bed — a  wise  precaution  when  a  person  can  no 
longer  stand.  The  fact  was,  that  my  honoured  mother, 
although  her  virtue  was  unimpeachable,  was  frequently 
seduced  by  liquor  ;  and  although  constant  to  my  father, 
was  debauched  and  to  be  found  in  bed  with  that  insidious 
assailer  of  female  uprightness — gin.  The  lighter,  which 
might  have  been  compared  to  another  Garden  of  Eden,  of 
which  my  mother  was  the  Eve,  and  my  father  the  Adam 
to  consort  with,  was  entered  by  this  serpent  who  tempted 
her ;  and  if  she  did  not  eat,  she  drank,  which  was  even 
worse.  At  first,  indeed — and  I  may  mention  it  to  prove  how 
the  enemy  always  gains  admittance  under  a  specious  form — 
she  drank  it  only  to  keep  the  cold  out  of  her  stomach, 
which  the  humid  atmosphere  from  the  surrounding  water 
appeared  to  warrant.  My  father  took  his  pipe  for  the 
same  reason  ;  but,  at  the  time  that  I  was  born,  he  smoked 
and  she  drank,  from  morning  to  night,  because  habit  had 
rendered  it  almost  necessary  to  their  existence.  The  pipe 
was  always  to  his  lips,  the  glass  incessantly  to  hers.  I 
would  have  defied  any  cold  ever  to  have  penetrated  into 
their  stomachs  •, — but  I  have  said  enough  of  my  mother  for 
the  present ;  I  will  now  pass  on  to  my  father. 

My  father  was  a  puffy,  round-bellied,  long-armed,  little 
man,  admirably  calculated  for  his  station  in,  or  rather  out 
of  society.  He  could  manage  a  lighter  as  well  as  any- 
body ;  but  he  could  do  no  more.  He  had  been  brought 
up  to  it  from  his  infancy.  He  went  on  shore  for  my 
mother,  and  came  on  board  again — the  only  remarkable 
event  in  his  life.  His  whole  amusement  was  his  pipe ; 
and,  as  there  is  a  certain  indefinable  link  between  smoking 
and  philosophy,  my  father,  by  dint  of  smoking,  had  become 
a  perfect  philosopher.  It  is  no  less  strange  than  true, 
that  we  can  pufF  away  our  cares  with  tobacco,  when, 
without  it,  they  remain  an  oppressive  burthen  to  existence. 
There  is  no  composing-draught  like  the  draught  through 
the  tube  of  a  pipe.  The  savage  warriors  of  North 
America  enjoyed  the  blessing  before  we  did  j  and  to  the 
pipe  is  to  be  ascribed  the  wisdom  of  their  councils,  and  the 


Jacob  Faithful  3 

laconic  delivery  of  their  sentiments.  It  would  be  well 
introduced  into  our  own  legislative  assembly.  Ladies,  in- 
deed, would  no  longer  peep  down  through  the  ventilator-, 
but  we  should  have  more  sense  and  fewer  words.  It 
is  also  to  tobacco  that  is  to  be  ascribed  the  stoical  firm- 
ness of  those  American  warriors,  who,  satisfied  with  the 
pipe  in  their  mouths,  submitted  with  perfect  indifference 
to  the  torture  of  their  enemies.  From  the  well-known 
virtues  of  this  weed  arose  that  peculiar  expression,  when 
you  irritate  another,  that  you  "  put  his  pipe  out." 

My  father's  pipe,  literally  and  metaphorically,  was  never 
put  out.  He  had  a  few  apophthegms  which  brought  every 
disaster  to  a  happy  conclusion  ;  and,  as  he  seldom  or  never 
indulged  in  words,  these  sayings  were  deeply  impressed 
upon  my  infant  memory.  One  was,  ^'  It's  no  use  crying; 
what's  done  cat^t  he  helpedP  When  once  these  words 
escaped  his  lips,  the  subject  was  never  renewed.  Nothing 
appeared  to  move  him  :  the  adjurations  of  those  employed 
in  the  other  lighters,  barges,  vessels,  and  boats  of  every 
description,  who  were  contending  with  us  for  the  extra 
foot  of  water,  as  we  drifted  up  or  down  with  the  tide, 
affected  him  not,  further  than  an  extra  column  or  two  of 
smoke  rising  from  the  bowl  of  his  pipe.  To  my  mother, 
he  used  but  one  expression,  "  Tah  it  coolly ; "  but  it  always 
had  the  contrary  effect  with  my  mother,  as  it  put  her  more 
in  a  passion.  It  was  like  pouring  oil  upon  flame  ;  never- 
theless, the  advice  was  good,  had  it  ever  been  followed. 
Another  favourite  expression  of  my  father's  when  anything 
went  wrong,  and  which  was  of  the  same  pattern  as  the 
rest  of  his  philosophy,  was,  ^^  Better  luck  next  time."  These 
aphorisms  were  deeply  impressed  upon  my  memory  j  I 
continually  recalled  them  to  mind,  and  thus  I  became 
a  philosopher  long  before  my  wise  teeth  were  in  embryo, 
or  I  had  even  shed  the  first  set  with  which  kind  Nature 
presents  us,  that  in  the  petticoat  age  we  may  fearlessly 
indulge  in  lollipop. 

My  father's  education  had  been  neglected.  He  could 
neither  write  nor  read  j  but  although  he  did  not  exactly, 


4  Jacob  Faithful 

like  Cadmus,  invent  letters,  he  had  accustomed  himself  to 
certain  hieroglyphics,  generally  speaking  sufficient  for  his 
purposes,  and  which  might  be  considered  as  an  artificial 
memory.  "  I  can't  write  nor  read,  Jacob,"  he  would  say  ; 
"  I  wish  I  could ;  but  look,  boy,  I  means  this  mark  for 
three  quarters  of  a  bushel.  Mind  you  recollects  it  when  I 
axes  you,  or  I'll  be  bio  wed  if  I  don't  wallop  you."  But  it  was 
only  a  case  of  peculiar  difficulty  which  would  require  a  new 
hieroglyphic,  or  extract  such  a  long  speech  from  my  father. 
I  was  well  acquainted  with  his  usual  scratches  and  dots,  and 
having  a  good  memory,  could  put  him  right  when  he 
was  puzzled  with  some  misshapen  x  or  z,  representing 
some  unknown  quantity,  like  the  same  letters  in  algebra. 

I  have  said  that  I  was  heir-apparent,  but  I  did  not  say 
that  I  was  the  only  child  born  to  my  father  in  his  wedlock. 
My  honoured  mother  had  had  two  more  children  ;  but  the 
first,  who  was  a  girl,  had  been  provided  for  by  a  fit  of  the 
measles ;  and  the  second,  my  elder  brother,  by  tumbling 
over  the  stern  of  the  lighter  when  he  was  three  years  old. 
At  the  time  of  the  accident,  my  mother  had  retired  to  her 
bed,  a  little  the  worse  for  liquor ;  my  father  was  on  deck 
forward,  leaning  against  the  windlass,  soberly  smoking  his 
evening  pipe.  "  What  was  that  ?  "  exclaimed  my  father, 
taking  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth,  and  listening ;  "  I 
shouldn't  wonder  if  it  wasn't  Joe."  And  my  father  put 
in  his  pipe  again,  and  smoked  away  as  before. 

My  father  was  correct  in  his  surmises.  It  was  Joe — 
who  had  made  the  splash  which  roused  him  from  his 
meditations,  for  the  next  morning  Joe  was  nowhere  to  be 
found.  He  was,  however,  found  some  days  afterwards  ; 
but,  as  the  newspapers  say,  and  as  may  well  be  imagined, 
the  "  vital  spark  was  extinct ; "  and,  moreover,  the  eels 
and  chubs  had  eaten  off  his  nose  and  a  portion  of  his  chubby 
face,  so  that,  as  my  father  said,  "  he  was  of  no  use  to 
nobody."  The  morning  after  the  accident,  my  father  was 
up  early,  and  had  missed  poor  little  Joe.  He  went  into 
the  cabin,  smoked  his  pipe,  and  said  nothing.  As  my 
brother  did   not   appear   as    usual   for  his    breakfast,  my 


Jacob  Faithful  5 

mother  called  out  for  him  in  a  harsh  voice  ;  but  Joe  was 
out  of  hearing,  and  as  mute  as  a  fish.  Joe  opened  not  his 
mouth  in  reply,  neither  did  my  father.  My  mother  then 
quitted  the  cabin,  and  walked  round  the  lighter,  looked 
into  the  dog-kennel  to  ascertain  if  he  was  asleep  with  the 
great  mastiff — but  Joe  was  nowhere  to  be  found. 

"  "Why,  what  can  have  become  of  Joe  ? "  cried  my 
mother,  with  maternal  alarm  in  her  countenance,  appealing 
to  my  father,  as  she  hastened  back  to  the  cabin.  My 
father  spoke  not,  but  taking  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth, 
dropped  the  bowl  of  it  in  a  perpendicular  direction  till  it 
landed  softly  on  the  deck,  then  put  it  into  his  mouth  again, 
and  puffed  mournfully.  "  Wiiy,  you  don't  mean  to  say 
that  he  is  overboard  ? "  screamed  my  mother. 

My  father  nodded  his  head,  and  puffed  away  at  an 
accumulated  rate.  A  torrent  of  tears,  exclamations,  and 
revilings  succeeded  to  this  characteristic  announcement. 
My  father  allowed  my  mother  to  exhaust  herself.  By 
the  time  she  had  finished,  so  was  his  pipe ;  he  then 
knocked  out  the  ashes,  and  quietly  observed,  "  It's  no  use 
crying  ;  what's  done  can't  be  helped,"  and  proceeded  to 
refill  the  bowl. 

"Can't  be  helped !  "  cried  my  mother  j  "  but  it  might 
have  been  helped." 

**  Take  it  coolly,"  replied  my  father. 

•*  Take  it  coolly  !  "  replied  my  mother  in  a  rage — "  take 
it  coolly  !  Yes,  you're  for  taking  everything  coolly  :  I  pre- 
sume, if  I  fell  overboard,  you  would  be  taking  it  coolly." 

*'  You  would  be  taking  it  coolly,  at  all  events,"  replied 
my  imperturbable  father. 

"  O  dear  !  O  dear ! "  cried  my  poor  mother  j  "two  poor 
children,  and  lost  them  both  !  " 

"  Better  luck  next  time,"  rejoined  my  father ;  "  so,  Sail, 
say  no  more  about  it." 

My  father  continued  for  some  time  to  smoke  his  pipe, 
and  my  mother  to  pipe  her  eye,  until  at  last  my  father, 
who  was  really  a  kind-hearted  man,  rose  from  the  chest 
upon  which  he  was  seated,  went  to  the  cupboard,  poured 


6  Jacob  Faithful 

out  a  teacnpful  of  gin,  and  handed  It  to  my  mother.  It 
was  kindly  done  of  him,  and  my  mother  was  to  be  won  by 
kindness.  It  was  a  pure  offering  in  the  spirit,  and  taken  in 
the  spirit  in  which  it  was  offered.  After  a  few  repetitions, 
which  were  rendered  necessary  from  its  potency  being 
diluted  with  her  tears,  grief  and  recollection  were  drowned 
together,  and  disappeared  like  two  lovers  who  sink  down 
entwined  in  each  other's  arms. 

With  this  beautiful  metaphor,  I  shall  wind  up  the 
episode  of  my  unfortunate  brother  Joe. 

It  was  about  a  year  after  the  loss  of  my  brother  that  I 
was  ushered  into  the  world  without  any  other  assistants  or 
spectators  than  my  father  and  Dame  Nature,  who  I  believe 
to  be  a  very  clever  midwife,  if  not  interfered  with.  My 
father,  who  had  some  faint  ideas  of  Christianity,  performed 
the  baptismal  rites  by  crossing  me  on  the  forehead  with 
the  end  of  his  pipe,  and  calling  me  Jacob :  as  for  my 
mother  being  churched,  she  had  never  been  but  once  to 
church  in  her  life.  In  fact,  my  father  and  mother  never 
quitted  the  lighter,  unless  when  the  former  was  called  out 
by  the  superintendent  or  proprietor,  at  the  delivery  or 
shipment  of  a  cargo,  or  was  once  a  month  for  a  few 
minutes  on  shore  to  purchase  necessaries.  I  cannot  recall 
much  of  my  infancy  ;  but  I  recollect  that  the  lighter  was 
often  very  briUiant  with  blue  and  red  paint,  and  that  my 
mother  used  to  point  it  out  to  me  as  "  so  pretty,"  to  keep 
me  quiet.  I  shall  therefore  pass  it  over,  and  commence  at 
the  age  of  five  years,  at  which  early  period  I  was  of  some 
little  use  to  my  father.  Indeed,  I  was  almost  as  forward 
as  some  boys  at  ten.  This  may  appear  strange  j  but  the 
fact  is,  that  my  ideas,  although  bounded,  were  concen- 
trated. The  lighter,  its  equipments,  and  its  destination 
were  the  microcosm  of  my  infant  imagination  ;  and  my 
ideas  and  thoughts  being  directed  to  so  few  objects,  these 
objects  were  deeply  impressed,  and  their  value  fully  under- 
stood. Up  to  the  time  that  I  quitted  the  lighter,  at  eleven 
years  old,  the  banks  of  the  river  were  the  boundaries  of 
my  speculations.     I  certainly  comprehended  something  of 


Jacob  Faithful  7 

the  nature  of  trees  and  houses ;  but  I  do  not  think  that  I 
was  aware  that  the  former  grew.  From  the  time  that  I 
could  recollect  them  on  the  banks  of  the  river,  they 
appeared  to  be  exactly  of  the  same  size  as  they  were  when 
first  I  saw  them,  and  I  asked  no  questions.  But  by  the 
time  that  I  was  ten  years  old,  I  knew  the  name  of  every 
reach  of  the  river,  and  every  point — the  depth  of  water, 
and  the  shallows,  the  drift  of  the  current,  and  the  ebb  and 
flow  of  the  tide  itself.  I  was  able  to  manage  the  lighter 
as  it  floated  down  with  the  tide  ;  for  what  I  lacked  in 
strength  I  made  up  with  the  dexterity  arising  from  con- 
stant practice. 

It  was  at  the  age  of  eleven  years  that  a  catastrophe  took 
place  which  changed  my  prospects  in  life,  and  I  must 
therefore  say  a  little  more  about  my  father  and  mother, 
bringing  up  their  history  to  that  period.  The  propensity 
of  my  mother  to  ardent  spirits  had,  as  always  is  the  case, 
greatly  increased  upon  her,  and  her  corpulence  had  in- 
creased in  the  same  ratio.  She  was  now  a  most  unwieldy, 
bloated  mountain  of  flesh,  such  a  form  as  I  have  never 
since  beheld,  although,  at  the  time,  she  did  not  appear  to 
me  to  be  disgusting,  accustomed  to  witness  imperceptibly 
her  increase,  and  not  seeing  any  other  females,  except  at  a 
distance.  For  the  last  two  years  she  had  seldom  quitted 
her  bed — certainly  she  did  not  crawl  out  of  the  cabin  more 
than  five  minutes  during  the  week — indeed  her  obesity 
and  habitual  intoxication  rendered  her  incapable.  My 
father  went  on  shore  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  once  a 
month,  to  purchase  gin,  tobacco,  red  herrings,  and 
decayed  ship-biscuit ; — the  latter  was  my  principal  fare, 
except  when  I  could  catch  a  fish  over  the  sides,  as  we  lay 
at  anchor.  I  was  therefore  a  great  water-drinker,  not 
altogether  from  choice,  but  from  the  salt  nature  of  my 
food,  and  because  my  mother  had  still  sense  enough  left  to 
discern  that  "  Gin  wasn't  good  for  little  boys."  But  a 
great  change  had  taken  place  in  my  father.  I  was  now 
left  almost  altogether  in  charge  of  the  deck,  my  father 
seldom  coming   up  except   to  assist  me  in   shooting   the 


8  Jacob  Faithful 

bridges,  or  when  it  required  more  than  my  exertions  to 
steer  clear  of  the  crowds  of  vessels  which  we  encountered 
when  between  them.  In  fact,  as  I  grew  more  capable, 
my  father  became  more  incapable,  and  passed  most  of  his 
time  in  the  cabin,  assisting  my  mother  in  emptying  the 
great  stone  bottle.  The  woman  had  prevailed  upon  the 
man,  and  now  both  were  guilty  in  partaking  of  the  for- 
bidden fruit  of  the  Juniper  Tree.  Such  was  the  state  of 
affairs  in  our  little  kingdom,  when  the  catastrophe  occurred 
which  I  am  now  about  to  relate. 

One  fine  summer's  evening,  we  were  floating  up  with  the 
tide,  deeply  laden  with  coals,  to  be  delivered  at  the  pro- 
prietor's wharf,  some  distance  above  Putney  Bridge ;  a 
strong  breeze  sprang  up,  and  checked  our  progress,  and 
we  could  not,  as  we  expected,  gain  the  wharf  that  night. 
We  were  about  a  mile  and  a  half  above  the  bridge  when 
the  tide  turned  against  us,  and  we  dropped  our  anchor. 
My  father,  who,  expecting  to  arrive  that  evening,  had  very 
unwillingly  remained  sober,  waiting  until  the  lighter  had 
swung  to  the  stream,  and  then  saying  to  me,  "  Remember, 
Jacob,  we  must  be  at  the  wharf  early  to-morrow  morning, 
so  keep  alive,"  went  into  the  cabin  to  indulge  in  his  pota- 
tions, leaving  me  in  possession  of  the  deck,  and  also  of  my 
supper,  which  I  never  ate  below,  the  little  cabin  being  so 
unpleasantly  close.  Indeed,  I  took  all  my  meals  al  fresco ^ 
and,  unless  the  nights  were  intensely  cold,  slept  on  deck, 
in  the  capacious  dog-kennel  abaft,  which  had  once  been 
tenanted  by  the  large  mastiff;  but  he  had  been  dead  some 
years,  was  thrown  overboard,  and,  in  all  probability,  had 
been  converted  into  Epping  sausages,  at  is.  per  lb.  Some 
time  after  his  decease,  I  had  taken  possession  of  his  apart- 
ment and  had  performed  his  duty.  I  had  finished  my 
supper,  which  I  washed  down  with  a  considerable  portion 
of  Thames  water,  for  I  always  drank  more  when  above  the 
bridges,  having  an  idea  that  it  tasted  more  pure  and  fresh. 
I  had  walked  forward  and  looked  at  the  cable  to  see  if  all 
was  right,  and  then  having  nothing  more  to  do,  I  lay  down 
on  the  deck,  and  indulged  in  the  profound  speculations  of 


Jacob  Faithful  9 

a  boy  of  eleven  years  old.  I  was  watching  the  stars  above 
me,  which  twinkled  faintly,  and  appeared  to  me  ever  and 
anon  to  be  extinguished  and  then  relighted.  I  was  wonder- 
ing what  they  could  be  made  of,  and  how  they  came  there, 
when  of  a  sudden  I  was  interrupted  in  my  reveries  by  a 
loud  shriek,  and  perceived  a  strong  smell  of  something 
burning.  The  shrieks  were  renewed  again  and  again,  and 
I  had  hardly  time  to  get  upon  my  legs  when  my  father 
burst  up  from  the  cabin,  rushed  over  the  side  of  the  lighter, 
and  disappeared  under  the  water.  I  caught  a  glimpse  of 
his  features  as  he  passed  me,  and  observed  fright  and  in- 
toxication blended  together.  I  ran  to  the  side  where  he 
had  disappeared,  but  could  see  nothing  but  a  few  eddying 
circles  as  the  tide  rushed  quickly  past.  For  a  few  seconds 
I  remained  staggered  and  stupefied  at  his  sudden  disappear- 
ance and  evident  death,  but  I  was  recalled  to  recollection 
by  the  smoke  which  encompassed  me,  and  the  shrieks  of  my 
mother,  which  were  now  fainter  and  fainter,  and  I  hastened 
to  her  assistance. 

A  strong,  empyreumatic,  thick  smoke  ascended  from  the 
hatchway  of  the  cabin,  and,  as  it  had  now  fallen  calm,  it 
mounted  straight  up  the  air  in  a  dense  column.  I  attempted 
to  go  in,  but  so  soon  as  I  encountered  the  smoke  I  found 
that  it  was  impossible ;  it  would  have  suffocated  me  in  half 
a  minute.  I  did  what  most  children  would  have  done  in 
such  a  situation  of  excitement  and  distress — I  sat  down  and 
cried  bitterly.  In  about  ten  minutes  I  removed  my  hands, 
with  which  I  had  covered  up  my  face,  and  looked  at  the 
cabin  hatch.  The  smoke  had  disappeared,  and  all  was 
silent.  I  went  to  the  hatchway,  and  although  the  smell 
was  still  overpowering,  I  found  that  I  could  bear  it.  I 
descended  the  little  ladder  of  three  steps,  and  called 
**  Mother ! "  but  there  was  no  answer.  The  lamp  fixed 
against  the  after  bulk-head,  with  a  glass  before  it,  was 
still  alight,  and  I  could  see  plainly  to  every  corner  of  the 
cabin.  Nothing  was  burning — not  even  the  curtains  to 
my  mother's  bed  appeared  to  be  singed.  I  was  astonished 
— breathless  with  fear,  with  a   trembling  voice,  I  again 


lo  Jacob  Faithful 

called  out  "  Mother !  "  I  remained  more  than  a  minute 
panting  for  breath,  and  then  ventured  to  draw  back  the 
curtains  of  the  bed — my  mother  was  not  there !  but  there 
appeared  to  be  a  black  mass  in  the  centre  of  the  bed.  I 
put  my  hand  fearfully  upon  it — it  was  a  sort  of  unctuous, 
pitchy  cinder.  I  screamed  with  horror — my  little  senses 
reeled — I  staggered  from  the  cabin  and  fell  down  on  the 
deck  in  a  state  amounting  almost  to  insanity  :  it  was 
followed  by  a  sort  of  stupor,  which  lasted  for  many  hours. 
As  the  reader  may  be  in  some  doubt  as  to  the  occasion 
of  my  mother's  death,  I  must  inform  him  that  she  perished 
in  that  very  peculiar  and  dreadful  manner,  which  does 
sometimes,  although  rarely,  occur,  to  those  who  indulge 
in  an  immoderate  use  of  spirituous  liquors.  Cases  of  this 
kind  do  indeed  present  themselves  but  once  in  a  century, 
but  the  occurrence  of  them  is  too  well  authenticated. 
She  perished  from  what  is  termed  spontaneous  combustion, 
an  inflammation  of  the  gases  generated  from  the  spirits 
absorbed  into  the  system.  It  is  to  be  presumed  that  the 
flames  issuing  from  my  mother's  body  completely  frightened 
out  of  his  senses  my  father,  who  had  been  drinking  freely  ; 
and  thus  did  I  lose  both  my  parents,  one  by  fire  and  the 
other  by  water,  at  one  and  the  same  time. 


Chapter  II 

I  fulfil  the  last  injunctions  of  my  Father,  and  I  am  embarked  upon  a  new 
element — First  bargain  in  my  life  very  profitable — First  parting  with 
old  friends  very  painful — First  introduction  into  civilised  life  very  un- 
satisfactory to  all  parties. 

It  was  broad  daylight  when  I  awoke  from  my  state  of 
bodily  and  mental  imbecility.  For  some  time  I  could  not 
recall  to  my  mind  all  that  had  happened :  the  weight 
which  pressed  upon  my  feelings  told  me  that  it  was 
something  dreadful.  At  length  the  cabin  hatch,  still  open, 
caught  my  eye  j  I  recalled  all  the  horrors  of  the  preceding 


Jacob  Faithful  1 1 

evening,  and  recollected  that  I  was  left  alone  in  the  lighter. 
I  got  up  and  stood  upon  my  feet  in  mute  despair.  I 
looked  around  me — the  mist  of  the  morning  was  hanging 
over  the  river,  and  the  objects  on  shore  were  with 
difficulty  to  be  distinguished.  I  was  chilled  from  lying 
all  night  in  the  heavy  dew,  and  perhaps  still  more  from 
previous  and  extraordinary  excitement.  Venture  to  go 
down  into  the  cabin  I  dare  not.  I  had  an  indescribable 
awe,  a  degree  of  horror  at  what  I  had  seen,  that  made 
it  impossible  •,  still  I  was  unsatisfied,  and  would  have 
given  worlds,  if  I  had  had  them,  to  explain  the  mystery. 
I  turned  my  eyes  from  the  cabin  hatch  to  the  water, 
thought  of  my  father,  and  then  for  more  than  half  an 
hour  watched  the  tide  as  it  ran  up — my  mind  in  a  state 
of  vacancy.  As  the  sun  rose,  the  mist  gradually  cleared 
away ;  trees,  houses,  and  green  fields,  other  barges  coming 
up  with  the  tide,  boats  passing  and  repassing,  the  barking 
of  dogs,  the  smoke  issuing  from  the  various  chimneys,  all 
broke  upon  me  by  degrees  j  and  I  was  recalled  to  the 
sense  that  I  was  in  a  busy  world,  and  had  my  own  task 
to  perform.  The  last  words  of  my  father — and  his 
injunctions  had  ever  been  a  law  to  me — were,  "  Mind, 
Jacob,  we  must  be  up  at  the  wharf  early  to-morrow 
morning."  I  prepared  to  obey  him.  Purchase  the  anchor 
I  could  not ;  I  therefore  slipped  the  cable,  lashing  a 
broken  sweep  to  the  end  of  it,  as  a  buoy-rope,  and  once 
more  the  lighter  was  at  the  mercy  of  the  stream,  guided 
by  a  boy  of  eleven  years  old.  In  about  two  hours  I  was 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  the  wharf  and  well  in-shore. 
I  hailed  for  assistance,  and  two  men  who  were  on  board 
of  the  lighters  moored  at  the  wharf  pushed  off  in  a  skiff 
to  know  what  it  was  that  I  wanted.  I  told  them  that  I 
was  alone  in  the  lighter,  without  anchor  or  cable,  and 
requested  them  to  secure  her.  They  came  on  board,  and 
in  a  few  minutes  the  lighter  was  safe  alongside  of  the 
others.  As  soon  as  the  lashings  were  passed,  they  in- 
terrogated me  as  to  what  had  happened,  but  although  the 
fulfilling  of  my  father's  last  injunctions  had  borne  up  my 


12  Jacob  Faithful 

spirits,  now  that  they  were  obeyed  a  reaction  took  place. 
I  could  not  answer  them ;  I  threw  myself  down  on  the 
deck  in  a  paroxysm  of  grief,  and  cried  as  if  my  heart 
would  break. 

The  men,  who  were  astonished  not  only  at  my  conduct 
but  at  finding  me  alone  in  the  lighter,  went  on  shore  to 
the  clerk,  and  stated  the  circumstances.  He  returned 
with  them,  and  would  have  interrogated  me,  but  my 
paroxysm  was  not  yet  over,  and  my  replies,  broken  by 
my  sobs,  were  unintelligible.  The  clerk  and  the  two 
men  went  down  into  the  cabin,  returned  hastily,  and 
quitted  the  lighter.  In  about  a  quarter  of  an  hour  I 
was  sent  for,  and  conducted  to  the  house  of  the  proprietor 
— the  first  time  in  my  life  that  I  had  ever  put  my  foot  on 
terra  Jirma.  I  was  led  into  the  parlour,  where  I  found 
the  proprietor  at  breakfast  with  his  wife  and  his  daughter, 
a  little  girl  nine  years  old.  By  this  time  I  had  recovered 
myself,  and  on  being  interrogated,  told  my  story  clearly 
and  succinctly,  while  the  big  tears  coursed  each  other 
down  my  dirty  face. 

*'  How  strange  and  how  horrible ! "  said  the  lady  to 
her  husband  ;  "  I  cannot  understand  it  even  now." 

**  Nor  can  I ;  but  still  it  is  true,  from  what  Johnson  the 
clerk  has  witnessed." 

In  the  meantime  my  eyes  were  directed  to  every  part  of 
the  room,  which  appeared  to  my  ignorance  as  a  Golconda 
of  wealth  and  luxury.  There  were  few  things  which  I 
had  seen  before,  but  I  had  an  innate  idea  that  they  were 
of  value.  The  silver  tea-pot,  the  hissing  urn,  the  spoons, 
the  pictures  in  their  frames,  every  article  of  furniture, 
caught  my  wondering  eye,  and  for  a  short  time  I  had 
forgotten  my  father  and  my  mother ;  but  I  was  recalled 
from  my  musing  speculations  by  the  proprietor  inquiring 
how  far  I  had  brought  the  lighter  without  assistance. 

"  Have  you  any  friends,  my  poor  boy  ? "  inquired  the 
lady. 

"  No." 

"  What !  no  relations  on  shore  ?  " 


Jacob  Faithful  13 

*'  I  never  was  on  shore  before  in  my  life." 

*'  Do  you  know  that  you  are  a  destitute  orphan  ?  *' 

"What's  that?" 

"  That  you  have  no  father  or  mother,"  said  the  little 

girl. 

""Well,"  replied  I,  in  my  father's  words,  having  no 
answer  more  appropriate,  "  it's  no  use  crying  ;  what's  done 
can't  be  helped." 

"  But  what  do  you  intend  to  do  now  ? "  inquired  the 
proprietor,  looking  hard  at  me  after  my  previous  answer. 

"Don't  know,  I'm  sure.  Take  it  coolly,"  replied  I, 
whimpering. 

"What  a  very  odd  child  !  "  observed  the  lady.  "  Is  he 
aware  of  the  extent  of  his  misfortune  ?  " 

"  Better  luck  next  time,  missus,"  replied  I,  wiping  my 
eyes  with  the  back  of  my  hand. 

"What  strange  answers  from  a  child  who  has  shown 
so  much  feeling,"  observed  the  proprietor  to  his  wife. 
"  What  is  your  name  ?  " 

"  Jacob  Faithful." 

"  Can  you  write  or  read  ? " 

"  No,"  replied  I,  again  using  my  father's  words  :  "  No, 
I  can't ;  I  wish  I  could." 

"  Very  well,  my  poor  boy,  we'll  see  what's  to  be  done," 
said  the  proprietor. 

"I  know  what's  to  be  done,"  rejoined  I;  "you  must 
send  a  couple  of  hands  to  get  the  anchor  and  cable,  afore 
they  cut  the  buoy  adrift." 

"  You  are  right,  my  lad,  that  must  be  done  immediately," 
said  the  proprietor j  "but  now  you  had  better  go  down 
with  Sarah  into  the  kitchen  5  cook  will  take  care  of  you. 
Sarah,  my  love,  take  him  down  to  cook." 

The  little  girl  beckoned  me  to  follow  her.  I  was 
astonished  at  the  length  and  variety  of  the  companion- 
ladders,  for  such  I  considered  the  stairs,  and  was  at  last 
landed  below,  when  little  Sarah,  giving  cook  the  injunction 
to  take  care  of  me,  again  tripped  lightly  up  to  her  mother. 

I  found  the  signification  of  "  take  care  of  any  one  "  very 


14  Jacob  Faithful 

different  on  shore  from  what  it  was  on  the  river,  where 
taking  care  of  you  means  getting  out  of  your  way,  and 
giving  you  a  wide  berth  ;  and  I  found  the  shore-reading 
much  more  agreeable.  Cook  did  take  care  of  me  j  she 
was  a  kind-hearted,  fat  woman,  who  melted  at  a  tale  of 
woe,  although  the  fire  made  no  impression  on  her.  I  not 
only  beheld,  but  I  devoured,  such  things  as  never  before 
entered  into  my  mouth  or  my  imagination.  Grief  had  not 
taken  away  my  appetite.  I  stopped  occasionally  to  cry  a 
little,  wiped  my  eyes,  and  sat  down  again.  It  was  more 
than  two  hours  before  I  laid  down  my  knife,  and  not  until 
strong  symptoms  of  suffocation  played  round  the  regions 
of  my  trachea  did  I  cry  out,  "Hold,  enough."  Somebody 
has  made  an  epigram  about  the  vast  ideas  which  a  miser's 
horse  must  have  had  of  corn.  I  doubt,  if  such  ideas  were 
existent,  whether  they  were  at  all  equal  to  my  astonish- 
ment at  a  leg  of  mutton.  I  had  never  seen  such  a  piece 
of  meat  before,  and  wondered  if  it  were  fresh  or  other- 
wise. After  such  reflection  I  naturally  felt  inclined  to 
sleep ;  in  a  few  minutes  I  was  snoring  upon  two  chairs, 
cook  having  covered  me  up  with  her  apron  to  keep  away 
the  flies.  Thus  was  I  fairly  embarked  upon  an  element 
new  to  me — my  mother  earth  ;  and  it  may  be  just  as  well 
to  examine  now  into  the  capital  I  possessed  for  my  novel 
enterprise.  In  person  I  was  well  looking  ;  I  was  well 
made,  strong,  and  active.  Of  my  habiliments  the  less  said 
the  better  ;  I  had  a  pair  of  trousers  with  no  seat  to  them  ; 
but  this  defect  when  I  stood  up  was  hid  by  my  jacket, 
composed  of  an  old  waistcoat  of  my  father's,  which 
reached  down  as  low  as  the  morning  frocks  worn  in 
those  days.  A  shirt  of  coarse  duck,  and  a  fur  cap,  which 
was  as  rough  and  ragged  as  if  it  had  been  the  hide  of  a 
cat  pulled  to  pieces  by  dogs,  completed  my  attire.  Shoes 
and  stockings  I  had  none  ;  these  supernumerary  append- 
ages had  never  confined  the  action  of  my  feet.  My  mental 
acquisitions  were  not  much  more  valuable; — they  consisted 
of  a  tolerable  knowledge  of  the  depth  of  water,  names  of 
points  and  reaches  in  the   River  Thames,  all  of  which 


Jacob  Faithful  15 

was  not  very  available  on  dry  land — of  a  few  hieroglyphics 
of  my  father's,  which,  as  the  crier  says  sometimes,  wind- 
ing up  his  oration,  were  of  "no  use  to  nobody  but  the 
owner."  Add  to  the  above,  the  three  favourite  maxims 
of  my  taciturn  father,  which  were  indelibly  imprinted 
upon  my  memory,  and  you  have  the  whole  inventory  of 
my  stock  in  trade.  These  three  maxims  were,  I  may 
say,  incorporated  into  my  very  system,  so  continually  had 
they  been  quoted  to  me  during  my  life  ;  and  before  I 
went  to  sleep  that  night,  they  were  again  conned  over. 
"  What's  done,  can't  be  helped,"  consoled  me  for  the 
mishaps  of  my  life  ;  "  Better  luck  next  time,"  made  me 
look  forward  with  hope;  and,  "Take  it  coolly,"  was  a 
subject  of  deep  reflection,  until  I  fell  into  a  deep  sleep  ; 
for  I  had  sufficient  penetration  to  observe  that  my  father 
had  lost  his  life  by  not  adhering  to  his  own  principles  ; 
and  this  perception  only  rendered  my  belief  in  the  in- 
fallibility of  these  maxims  to  be  even  still  more  steadfast. 

I  have  stated  what  was  my  father's  legacy,  and  the 
reader  will  suppose  that  from  the  maternal  side  the 
acquisition  was  nil.  Directly  such  was  the  case,  but  in- 
directly she  proved  a  very  good  mother  to  me,  and  that 
was  by  the  very  extraordinary  way  in  which  she  had 
quitted  the  world.  Had  she  met  with  a  common  death, 
she  would  have  been  worth  nothing.  Burke  himself 
would  not  have  been  able  to  dispose  of  her ;  but  dying 
as  she  did,  her  ashes  were  the  source  of  wealth.  The 
bed,  with  her  remains  lying  in  the  centre,  even  the  curtains 
of  the  bed,  were  all  brought  on  shore,  and  locked  up  in 
an  outhouse.  The  coroner  came  down  in  a  postchaise 
and  four,  charged  to  the  county ;  the  jury  was  empannelled, 
my  evidence  was  taken,  surgeons  and  apothecaries  attended 
from  far  and  near  to  give  their  opinions,  and  after  much 
examination,  much  arguing,  and  much  disagreement,  the 
verdict  was  brought  in  that  she  "  died  by  the  visitation 
of  God."  As  this,  in  other  phraseology,  implies  that 
*'  God  only  knows  how  she  died,"  it  was  agreed  to  nem. 
con.y  and  gave  universal  satisfaction.    But  the  extraordinary 


1 6  Jacob  Faithful 

circumstance  was  spread  everywhere,  with  all  due  ampli- 
fications, and  thousands  flocked  to  the  wharfinger's  yard 
to  witness  the  effects  of  spontaneous  combustion.  The 
proprietor  immediately  perceived  that  he  could  avail  him- 
self of  the  public  curiosity  to  my  advantage.  A  plate, 
with  some  silver  and  gold,  was  placed  at  the  foot  of 
my  poor  mother's  flock  mattress,  with,  "  For  the  benefit 
of  the  orphan,"  in  capital  text,  placarded  above  it ;  and 
many  were  the  shillings,  half-crowns,  and  even  larger 
sums  which  were  dropped  into  it  by  the  spectators,  who 
shuddered  as  they  turned  away  from  this  awful  specimen 
of  the  effects  of  habitual  intoxication.  For  many  days 
did  the  exhibition  continue,  during  which  time  I  was 
domiciled  with  the  cook,  who  employed  me  in  scouring 
her  saucepans,  and  any  other  employment  in  which  my 
slender  services  might  be  useful,  little  thinking  at  the 
time  that  my  poor  mother  was  holding  her  levee  for  my 
advantage.  On  the  eleventh  day  the  exhibition  was  closed, 
and  I  was  summoned  upstairs  by  the  proprietor,  whom  I 
found  in  company  with  a  little  gentleman  in  black.  This 
was  a  surgeon,  who  had  offered  a  sum  of  money  for 
my  mother's  remains,  bed  and  curtains,  in  a  lot.  The 
proprietor  was  willing  to  get  rid  of  them  in  so  ad- 
vantageous a  manner,  but  did  not  conceive  that  he  was 
justified  in  taking  this  step,  although  for  my  benefit, 
without  first  consulting  me,  as  heir-at-law. 

*'  Jacob,"  said  he,  "  this  gentleman  offers  ^20,  which 
is  a  great  deal  of  money,  for  the  ashes  of  your  poor 
mother.     Have  you  any  objection  to  let  him  have  them  .? " 

"  What  do  you  want  'em  for  ?  "  inquired  I. 

•*  I  wish  to  keep  them,  and  take  great  care  of  them," 
answered  he. 

"  Well,"  replied  I,  after  a  little  consideration,  "  if  you'll 
take  care  of  the  old  woman,  you  may  have  her," — and  the 
bargain  was  concluded.  Singular  that  the  first  bargain 
I  ever  made  in  my  life  should  be  that  of  selling  my 
own  mother.  The  proceeds  of  the  exhibition  and  sale 
amounted  to  ^^47   odd,  which  the  worthy  proprietor  of 


Jacob  F'aithful  17 

the  lighter,  after  deducting  for  a  suit  of  clothes,  laid  up 
for  my  use.  Thus  ends  the  history  of  my  mother's 
remains,  which  proved  more  valuable  to  me  than  ever 
she  did  when  living.  In  her  career  she  somewhat  reversed 
the  case  of  Semele,  who  was  first  visited  in  a  shower  of 
gold,  and  eventually  perished  in  the  fiery  embraces  of 
the  god :  whereas  my  poor  mother  perished  first  by  the 
same  element,  and  the  shower  of  gold  descended  to  her 
only  son.  But  this  is  easily  explained.  Semele  was  very 
lovely  and  did  not  drink  gin — my  mother  was  her  complete 
antithesis. 

When  I  was  summoned  to  my  master's  presence  to 
arrange  the  contract  with  the  surgeon,  I  had  taken  off  the 
waistcoat  which  I  wore  as  a  garment  over  all,  that  I  might 
be  more  at  my  ease  in  chopping  some  wood  for  the  cook, 
and  the  servant  led  me  up  at  once,  without  giving  me 
time  to  put  it  on.  After  I  had  given  my  consent,  I  turned 
away  to  go  down  stairs  again,  when  having,  as  I  before 
observed,  no  seat  to  my  trousers,  the  solution  of  continuity 
was  observed  by  a  little  spaniel,  who  jumped  from  the 
sofa,  and  arriving  at  a  certain  distance,  stood  at  bay,  and 
barked  most  furiously  at  the  exposure.  He  had  been 
bred  up  among  respectable  people,  and  had  never  seen 
such  an  expose.  Mr  Drummond,  the  proprietor,  observed 
the  defect  pointed  out  by  the  dog,  and  forthwith  I  was 
ordered  to  be  suited  with  a  new  suit — certainly  not  before 
they  were  required.  In  twenty-four  hours  I  was  thrust 
into  a  new  garment  by  a  bandy-legged  tailor,  assisted  by 
my  friend  the  cook,  and  turn  or  twist  whichever  way  I 
pleased,  decency  was  never  violated.  A  new  suit  of 
clothes  is  generally  an  object  of  ambition,  and  flatters  the 
vanity  of  young  and  old ;  but  with  me  it  was  far  otherwise. 
Encumbered  with  my  novel  apparel,  I  experienced  at  once 
feelings  of  restraint  and  sorrow.  My  shoes  hurt  me,  my 
worsted  stockings  irritated  the  skin  ;  and  as  I  had  been 
accustomed  to  hereditarily  succeed  to  my  father's  cast  ofF 
skins,  which  were  a  world  too  wide  for  my  shanks,  having 
but  few  ideas,  it  appeared  to  me  as  if  I  had  swelled  out  to 

J.F.  B 


18  Jacob  Faithful 

the  size  of  the  clothes  which  I  had  been  unaccustomed  to 
■wear,  not  that  they  had  been  reduced  to  my  dimensions. 
I  fancied  myself  a  man,  but  was  very  much  embarrassed 
with  my  manhood.  Every  step  that  I  took  I  felt  as  if  I  was 
checked  back  by  strings.  I  could  not  swing  my  arms  as  I 
was  wont  to  do,  and  tottered  in  my  shoes  like  a  rickety 
child.  My  old  apparel  had  been  consigned  to  the  dust- 
hole  by  cook,  and  often  during  the  day  would  I  pass, 
casting  a  longing  eye  at  it,  wishing  that  I  dare  recover  it, 
and  exchange  it  for  that  which  I  wore.  I  knew  the  value 
of  it,  and,  like  the  magician  in  Aladdin's  tale,  would  have 
offered  new  lamps  for  old  ones,  cheerfully  submitting  to 
ridicule,  that  I  might  have  repossessed  my  treasure. 

With  the  kitchen  and  its  apparatus  I  was  now  quite  at 
home ;  but  at  every  other  part  of  the  house  and  furniture 
I  was  completely  puzzled.  Everything  appeared  to  me 
foreign,  strange,  and  unnatural,  and  Prince  Le  Boo  or  any 
other  savage  never  stared  or  wondered  more  than  I  did. 
Of  most  things  I  knew  not  the  use,  of  many  not  even  the 
names.  I  was  literally  a  savage,  but  still  a  kind  and 
docile  one.  The  day  after  my  new  clothes  had  been  put 
on,  I  was  summoned  into  the  parlour.  Mr  Drummond 
and  his  wife  surveyed  me  in  my  altered  habiliments,  and 
amused  themselves  at  my  awkwardness,  at  the  same  time 
that  they  admired  my  well-knit,  compact,  and  straight 
figure,  set  off  by  a  fit,  in  my  opinion,  much  too  strait. 
Their  little  daughter,  Sarah,  who  often  spoke  to  me,  went 
up  and  whispered  to  her  mother.  "  You  must  ask  papa," 
was  the  reply.  Another  whisper,  and  a  kiss,  and  Mr 
Drummond  told  me  that  I  should  dine  with  them.  In  a 
few  minutes  I  followed  them  into  the  dining-room,  and 
for  the  first  time  I  was  seated  to  a  repast  which  could 
boast  of  some  of  the  supernumerary  comforts  of  civilised 
life.  There  I  sat,  perched  on  a  chair,  with  my  feet 
swinging  close  to  the  carpet,  glowing  with  heat  from  the 
compression  of  my  clothes,  and  the  novelty  of  my  situation, 
and  all  that  was  around  me.  Mr  Drummond  helped  me 
to  some  scalding  soup,  a  silver  spoon  was  put  into  my 


Jacob  Faithful  19 

hand,  which  I  twisted  round  and  round,  looking  at  my 
face  reflected  in  miniature  on  its  polish. 

*'  Now,  Jacob,  you  must  eat  the  soup  with  the  spoon," 
said  little  Sarah,  laughing ;  "we  shall  all  be  done.  Be 
quick." 

"  Take  it  coolly,"  replied  I,  digging  my  spoon  into  the 
burning  preparation,  and  tossing  it  into  my  mouth.  It 
burst  forth  from  my  tortured  throat  in  a  diverging  shower, 
accompanied  with  a  howl  of  pain. 

*'  The  poor  boy  has  scalded  his  mouth,"  cried  the  lady, 
pouring  out  a  tumbler  of  water. 

"  It's  no  use  crying,"  replied  I,  blubbering  with  all  my 
might ;  "  what's  done  can't  be  helped." 

"  Better  that  you  had  not  been  helped,"  observed  Mr 
Drummond,  wiping  off  his  share  of  my  liberal  spargefica- 
tion  from  his  coat  and  waistcoat. 

**  The  poor  boy  has  been  shamefully  neglected,"  ob- 
served the  good-natured  Mrs  Drummond.  "  Come,  Jacob, 
sit  down  and  try  it  again  ;  it  will  not  burn  you  now." 

**  Better  luck  next  time,"  said  I,  shoving  in  a  portion  of 
it,  with  a  great  deal  of  tremulous  hesitation,  and  spilling 
one-half  of  it  in  its  transit.  It  was  now  cool,  but  I  did 
not  get  on  very  fast ;  I  held  my  spoon  awry,  and  soiled 
my  clothes. 

Mrs  Drummond  interfered,  and  kindly  showed  me  how 
to  proceed  ;  when  Mr  Drummond  said,  **  Let  the  boy  eat 
it  after  his  own  fashion,  my  dear — only  be  quick,  Jacob, 
for  we  are  waiting." 

"  Then  I  see  no  good  losing  so  much  of  it,  taking  it  in 
tale,"  observed  I,  *'  when  I  can  ship  it  all  in  bulk  in  a 
minute."  I  laid  down  my  spoon,  and  stooping  my  head, 
apphed  my  mouth  to  the  edge  of  the  plate,  and  sucked  the 
remainder  down  my  throat  without  spilling  a  drop.  I 
looked  up  for  approbation,  and  was  very  much  astounded 
to  hear  Mrs  Drummond  quietly  observe,  "  That  is  not  the 
way  to  eat  soup." 

I  made  so  many  blunders  during  the  meal,  that  little 
Sarah  was  in  a  continued  roar  of  laughter  j  and  I  felt  so 


20  Jacob  Faithful 

miserable,  that  I  heartily  wished  myself  again  in  my  dog- 
kennel  on  board  of  the  lighter,  gnawing  biscuit  in  all  the 
happiness  of  content,  and  dignity  of  simplicity.  For  the 
first  time  I  felt  the  pangs  of  humiliation.  Ignorance  is  not 
always  debasing.  On  board  of  the  lighter,  I  was  sufficient 
for  myself,  my  company,  and  my  duties.  I  felt  an  elasti- 
city of  mind,  a  respect  for  myself,  and  a  consciousness  of 
power,  as  the  immense  mas.,  was  guided  through  the  waters 
by  my  single  arm.  There,  without  being  able  to  analyse 
my  feelings,  I  was  a  spirit  guiding  a  little  world  ;  and  now, 
at  this  table,  and  in  company  with  rational  and  well- 
informed  beings,  I  felt  humiliated  and  degraded ;  my 
heart  was  overflowing  with  shame,  and  at  one  unusual  loud 
laugh  of  the  little  Sarah,  the  heaped  up  measure  of  my 
anguish  overflowed,  and  I  burst  into  a  passion  of  tears. 
As  I  lay  with  my  head  upon  the  table-cloth,  regardless  of 
those  decencies  I  had  so  much  feared,  and  awake  only  to  a 
deep  sense  of  wounded  pride,  each  sob  coming  from  the 
very  core  of  my  heart,  I  felt  a  soft  breathing  warm  upon 
my  cheek,  that  caused  me  to  look  up  timidly,  and  I  beheld 
the  glowing  and  beautiful  face  of  little  Sarah,  her  eyes 
filled  with  tears,  looking  so  softly  and  beseechingly  at  me, 
that  I  felt  at  once  I  was  of  some  value,  and  panted  to  be  of 
more. 

**  I  won't  laugh  at  you  any  more,"  said  she  j  "  so  don't 
cry,  Jacob." 

•'  No  more  I  will,"  replied  I,  cheering  up.  She  remained 
standing  by  me,  and  I  felt  grateful.  "  The  first  time  I 
get  a  piece  of  wood,"  whispered  I,  "  I'll  cut  you  out  a 
barge." 

•'  Oh,  papa  j  Jacob  says  he'll  cut  me  out  a  barge." 

"  That  boy  has  a  heart,"  said  Mr  Drummond  to  his 
wife. 

**  But  will  it  swim,  Jacob  ?  "  inquired  the  little  girl. 

"  Yes,  and  if  it's  lopsided,  call  me  a  lubber." 

"  What's  lopsided,  and  what's  a  lubber  ?  "  replied  Sai\,,h. 

"Why,  don't  you  know  ?  "  cried  I j  and  I  felt  my  con- 
fidence return,  when  I  found  that  in  this  little  instance  I 
knew  more  than  she  did. 


Jacob  Faithful  21 


Chapter    III 

I  am  sent  to  a  Charity  School,  where  the  boys  do  not  consider  charity  as  a 
part  of  their  education — The  Peculiarities  of  the  Master,  and  the  magical 
effects  of  a  blow  of  the  nose — A  Disquisition  upon  the  Letter  A,  from 
which  I  find  all  my  prerious  learning  thrown  away. 

Before  I  quitted  the  room,  Sarah  and  I  were  in  deep  con- 
verse at  the  window,  and  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond  employed 
likewise  at  the  table.  The  result  of  the  conversation 
between  Sarah  and  me  was  the  intimacy  of  children  ;  that 
of  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond,  that  the  sooner  I  was  disposed 
of,  the  more  it  would  be  for  my  own  advantage.  Having 
some  interest  with  the  governors  of  a  charity  school  near 
Brentford,  Mr  Drummond  lost  no  time  in  procuring  me 
admission  ;  and  before  I  had  quite  spoiled  my  new  clothes, 
having  worn  them  nearly  three  weeks,  I  was  suited  afresh 
in  a  formal  attire — a  long  coat  of  pepper  and  salt,  yellow 
leather  breeches  tied  at  the  knees,  a  worsted  cap  with  a 
tuft  on  the  top  of  it,  stockings  and  shoes  to  match,  and  a 
large  pewter  plate  upon  my  breast,  marked  with  No.  63, 
which,  as  I  was  the  last-entered  boy,  indicated  the  sum  total 
of  the  school.  It  was  with  regret  that  I  left  the  abode  of 
the  Drummonds,  who  did  not  think  it  advisable  to  wait  for 
the  completion  of  the  barge,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  Miss 
Sarah  and  myself.  I  was  conducted  to  the  school  by  Mr 
Drummond,  and  before  we  arrived  met  them  all  out 
walking.  I  was  put  into  the  ranks,  received  a  little  good 
advice  from  my  worthy  patron,  who  then  walked  away  one 
way,  while  we  w:alked  another,  looking  like  a  regiment  of 
yellow-thighed  field-fares  straightened  into  human  per- 
pendiculars. Behold,  then,  the  last  scion  of  the  Faithfuls, 
peppered,  salted,  and  plated,  that  all  the  world  might  know 
that  he  was  a  charity-boy,  and  that  there  was  charity  in 
this  world.  But  if  heroes,  kings,  great  and  grave  men, 
must  yield  to  destiny,  lighter-boys  cannot  be  expected  to 
escape ;  and  I  was  doomed  to  receive  an  education,  board* 
lodging,  raiment,  etc.,  free,  gratis,  and  for  nothing. 


22  Jacob  Faithful 

Every  society  has  its  chief ;  and  I  was  about  to  observe 
that  every  circle  has  its  centre,  which  certainly  would 
have  been  true  enough,  but  the  comparison  is  of  no  use 
to  me,  as  our  circle  had  two  centres,  or,  to  follow  up 
the  first  idea,  had  two  chiefs — the  chief  schoolmaster, 
and  the  chief  domestic — the  chief  masculine  and  the  chief 
feminine — the  chief  with  the  ferula  and  the  chief  with 
the  brimstone  and  treacle — the  master  and  the  matron, 
each  of  whom  had  their  appendages — the  one  in  the 
usher,  the  other  in  the  assistant  housemaid.  But  of 
this  quartette,  the  master  was  not  only  the  most  im- 
portant, but  the  most  worthy  of  description ;  and,  as 
he  will  often  appear  in  the  pages  of  my  narrative  long 
after  my  education  was  complete,  I  shall  be  very  particular 
in  my  description  of  Domine  Dobiensis,  as  he  delighted 
to  be  called,  or  Dreary  Dobs,  as  his  dutiful  scholars 
delighted  to  call  him.  As,  in  our  school,  it  was  necessary 
that  we  should  be  instructed  in  reading,  writing,  and 
ciphering,  the  governors  had  selected  the  Domine  as  the 
most  fitting  person  that  had  offered  for  the  employment, 
because  he  had,  in  the  first  place,  written  a  work  that 
nobody  could  understand  upon  the  Greek  particles ; 
secondly,  he  had  proved  himself  a  great  mathematician, 
having,  it  is  said,  squared  the  circle  by  algebraical  false 
quantities,  but  would  never  show  the  operation  for  fear 
of  losing  the  honour  by  treachery.  He  had  also  discovered 
as  many  errors  in  the  demonstrations  of  Euclid,  as  ever 
did  Joey  Hume  in  army  and  navy  estimates,  and  with  as 
much  benefit  to  the  country  at  large.  He  was  a  man 
who  breathed  certainly  in  the  present  age,  but  the  half 
of  his  life  was  spent  in  antiquity  or  algebra.  Once  carried 
away  by  a  problem,,  or  a  Greek  reminiscence,  he  passed 
away  as  it  were,  from  his  present  existence,  and  every- 
thing was  unheeded.  His  body  remained,  and  breathed 
on  his  desk,  but  his  soul  was  absent.  This  peculiarity 
was  well  known  to  the  boys,  who  used  to  say,  "Domine 
is  in  his  dreams,  and  talks  in  his  sleep." 

Domine    Dobiensis    left    reading    and   writing   to   the 


Jacob  Faithful  23 

usher,  contrary  to  the  regulations  of  the  school,  putting 
the  boys,  if  possible,  into  mathematics,  Latin,  and  Greek. 
The  usher  was  not  over  competent  to  teach  the  two  first ; 
the  boys  not  over  willing  to  learn  the  latter.  The  master 
was  too  clever,  the  usher  too  ignorant ;  hence  the  scholars 
profited  little.  The  Domine  was  grave  and  irascible,  but 
he  possessed  a  fund  of  drollery  and  the  kindest  heart. 
His  features  could  not  laugh,  but  his  trachea  did.  The 
chuckle  rose  no  higher  than  the  rings  of  the  windpipe, 
and  then  it  was  vigorously  thrust  back  again  by  the  im- 
pulse of  gravity  into  the  region  of  his  heart,  and  gladdened 
it  with  hidden  mirth  in  its  dark  centre.  The  Domine 
loved  a  pun,  whether  it  was  let  off  in  English,  Greek,  or 
Latin.  The  last  two  were  made  by  nobody  but  himself, 
and  not  being  understood,  were  of  course  relished  by 
himself  alone.  But  his  love  of  a  pun  was  a  serious 
attachment :  he  loved  it  with  a  solemn  affection — with 
him  it  was  no  laughing  matter. 

In  person,  Domine  Dobiensis  was  above  six  feet,  all 
bone  and  sinews.  His  face  was  long,  and  his  lineaments 
large  j  but  his  predominant  feature  was  his  nose,  which, 
large  as  were  the  others,  bore  them  down  into  insignifi- 
cance. It  was  a  prodigy — a  ridicule  j  but  he  consoled 
himself — Ovid  was  called  Naso.  It  was  not  an  aquiline 
nose,  nor  was  it  an  aquiline  nose  reversed.  It  was  not 
a  nose  snubbed  at  the  extremity,  gross,  heavy,  or  car- 
buncled,  or  fluting.  In  all  its  magnitude  of  proportions, 
it  was  an  intellectual  nose.  It  was  thin,  horny,  trans- 
parent, and  sonorous.  Its  snuffle  was  consequential,  and 
its  sneeze  oracular.  The  very  sight  of  it  was  impressive ; 
its  sound,  when  blown  in  school  hours,  was  ominous. 
But  the  scholars  loved  the  nose  for  the  warning  which  it 
gave  :  like  the  rattle  of  the  dreaded  snake,  which  announces 
its  presence,  so  did  the  nose  indicate  to  the  scholars  that 
they  were  to  be  on  their  guard.  The  Domine  would 
attend  to  this  world  and  its  duties  for  an  hour  or  two, 
and  then  forget  his  scholars  and  his  school-room,  while 
he  took  a  journey  into  the  world  of  Greek  or  algebra. 


24  Jacob  Faithful 

Then,  when  he  marked  x,  y,  and  z,  in  his  calculations, 
the  boys  knew  that  he  was  safe,  and  their  studies  were 
neglected. 

Reader,  did  you  ever  witness  the  magic  effects  of  a 
drum  in  a  small  village,  when  the  recruiting-party,  with 
many-coloured  ribands,  rouse  it  up  with  a  spirit-stirring 
tattoo  ?  Matrons  leave  their  domestic  cares,  and  run  to 
the  cottage-door :  peeping  over  their  shoulders,  the 
maidens  admire  and  fear.  The  shuffling  clowns  raise  up 
their  heads  gradually,  until  they  stand  erect  and  proud ; 
the  slouch  in  the  back  is  taken  out,  their  heavy  walk  is 
changed  to  a  firm  yet  elastic  tread,  every  muscle  appears 
more  braced,  every  nerve,  by  degrees,  new  strung ;  the 
blood  circulates  rapidly ;  pulses  quicken,  hearts  throb, 
eyes  brighten,  and  as  the  martial  sound  pervades  their 
rustic  frames,  the  Cimons  of  the  plough  are  converted, 
as  if  by  magic,  into  incipient  heroes  for  the  field ; — and 
all  this  is  produced  by  beating  the  skin  of  the  most  gentle, 
most  harmless  animal  of  creation. 

Not  having  at  hand  the  simile  synthetical,  we  have 
resorted  to  the  antithetical.  The  blowing  of  the  Domine's 
nose  produced  the  very  contrary  effect.  It  was  a  signal 
that  he  had  returned  from  his  intellectual  journey,  and  was 
once  more  in  his  school-room — that  the  master  had  finished 
with  his  X,  y,  z's,  and  it  was  time  for  the  scholars  to  mind 
their  p's  and  q^s.  At  this  note  of  warning,  like  the  minute 
roll  among  the  troops,  every  one  fell  into  his  place  j  half- 
munched  apples  were  thrust  into  the  first  pocket — pop- 
guns disappeared — battles  were  left  to  be  decided  else- 
where— books  were  opened,  and  eyes  directed  to  them — 
forms  that  were  fidgetting  and  twisting  in  all  directions, 
now  took  one  regimental  inclined  position  over  the  desk — 
silence  was  restored,  order  resumed  her  reign,  and  Mr 
Knapps,  the  usher,  who  always  availed  himself  of  these 
interregnums,  as  well  as  the  scholars,  by  deserting  to  the 
matron's  room,  warned  by  the  well-known  sound,  hastened 
to  the  desk  of  toil ;  such  were  the  astonishing  effects  of  a 
blow  from  Domine  Dobiensis'  sonorous  and  peace-restoring 
nose. 


Jacob  Faithful  25 

*'  Jacob  Faithful,  draw  near,"  were  the  first  words 
which  struck  upon  my  tympanum  the  next  morning,  when 
I  had  taken  my  seat  at  the  further  end  of  the  school-room. 
I  rose  and  threaded  my  way  through  two  lines  of  boys, 
who  put  out  their  legs  to  trip  me  up,  in  my  passage 
through  their  ranks ;  and,  surmounting  all  difficulties, 
found  myself  within  three  feet  of  the  master's  high  desk, 
or  pulpit,  from  which  he  looked  down  upon  me  like  the 
Olympian  Jupiter  upon  mortals,  in  ancient  time. 

"Jacob  Faithful,  canst  thou  read?" 

**  No,  I  can't,"  replied  I :  **  I  wish  I  could." 

"  A  well-disposed  answer,  Jacob ;  thy  wishes  shall  be 
gratified.     Knowest  thou  thine  alphabet  ? " 

"  I  don't  know  what  that  is." 

*'  Then  thou  knowest  it  not.  Mr  Knapps  shall  forth- 
with instruct  thee.  Thou  shalt  forthwith  go  to  Mr 
Knapps,  who  inculcateth  the  rudiments.  Levior  Puer, 
lighter-boy,  thou  hast  a  crafty  look."  And  then  I  heard  a 
noise  in  his  thorax  that  resembled  the  "cluck  cluck"  when 
my  poor  mother  poured  the  gin  out  of  the  great  stone 
bottle. 

"  My  little  navllculator,"  continued  he,  "  thou  art  a  weed 
washed  on  shore,  one  of  Father  Thames'  cast-up  wrecks. 
*■  Fluviorum  rex  Eridanus?  [Cluck,  cluck.]  To  thy  studies; 
be  thyself — that  is,  be  Faithful.  Mr  Knapps,  let  the 
Cadmean  art  proceed  forthwith."  So  saying,  Domine 
Dobiensis  thrust  his  large  hand  into  his  right  coat  pocket, 
in  which  he  kept  his  snuff  loose,  and  taking  a  large  pinch 
(the  major  part  of  which,  the  stock  being  low,  was  com- 
posed of  hair  and  cotton  abrasions,  which  had  collected  in 
the  corner  of  his  pocket),  he  called  up  the  first  class, 
while  Mr  Knapps  called  me  to  my  first  lesson. 

Mr  Knapps  was  a  thin,  hectic-looking  young  man, 
apparently  nineteen  or  twenty  years  of  age,  very  small  in 
ail  his  proportions,  red  ferret  eyes,  and  without  the  least 
sign  of  incipient  manhood  ;  but  he  was  very  savage,  never- 
theless. Not  being  permitted  to  pummel  the  boys  when 
the  Domine  was  in  the  school-room,  he  played  the  tyrant 


26  Jacob  Faithful 

most  effectually  when  he  was  left  commanding  officer. 
The  noise  and  hubbub  certainly  warranted  his  interference 
— the  respect  paid  to  him  was  positively  nil.  His  practice 
was  to  select  the  most  glaring  delinquent,  and  let  fly  his 
ruler  at  him,  with  immediate  orders  to  bring  it  back. 
These  orders  were  complied  with  for  more  than  one 
reason ;  in  the  first  place,  was  the  offender  hit,  he  was 
glad  that  another  should  have  his  turn  ;  in  the  second,  Mr 
Knapps  being  a  very  bad  shot  (never  having  drove  a 
Kamtchadale  team  of  dogs),  he  generally  missed  the  one 
he  aimed  at,  and  hit  some  other,  who,  if  he  did  not  exactly 
deserve  it  at  that  moment,  certainly  did  for  previous,  or 
would  for  subsequent,  delinquencies.  In  the  latter  case, 
the  ruler  was  brought  back  to  him  because  there  was  no 
injury  inflicted,  although  intended.  However,  be  it  as  it 
may,  the  ruler  was  always  returned  to  him ;  and  thus  did 
Mr  Knapps  pelt  the  boys  as  if  they  were  cocks  on  Shrove 
Tuesday,  to  the  great  risk  of  their  heads  and  limbs.  I 
have  little  further  to  say  of  Mr  Knapps,  except  that  he 
wore  a  black  shalloon  loose  coat ;  on  the  left  sleeve  of 
which  he  wiped  his  pen,  and  upon  the  right,  but  too 
often,  his  ever-snivelling  nose. 

"What  is  that,  boy?"  said  Mr  Knapps,  pointing  to  the 
letter  A. 

I  looked  attentively,  and  recognising,,  as  I  thought,  one 
of  my  father's  hieroglyphics,  replied,  "  That's  half  a 
bushel ; "  and  I  was  certainly  warranted  in  my  supposition. 

**  Half  a  bushel !  You're  more  than  half  a  fool.  That's 
the  letter  ^." 

"  No  ;  it's  half  a  bushel ;  father  told  me  so." 

"  Then  your  father  was  as  big  a  fool  as  yourself." 

"  Father  knew  what  half  a  bushel  was,  and  so  do  I : 
that's  half  a  bushel." 

"  I  tell  you  it's  the  letter  A,"  cried  Mr  Knapps,  in  a 
rage. 

*'  It's  half  a  bushel,"  replied  I,  doggedly.  I  persisted 
in  my  assertion  ;  and  Mr  Knapps,  who  dared  not  punish 
me  while  the  Domine  was  present,  descended  his  throne  of 
one  step,  and  led  me  up  to  the  master. 


Jacob  Faithful  27 

**  I  can  do  nothing  with  this  boy,  sir,"  said  he,  red  as 
fire  ;  "  he  denies  the  first  letter  in  the  alphabet,  and  insists 
upon  it  that  the  letter  A  is  not  A,  but  half  a  bushel." 

"Dost  thou,  in  thine  ignorance,  pretend  to  teach  when 
thou  comest  here  to  learn,  Jacob  Faithful  ?  " 

**  Father  always  told  me  that  that  thing  there  meant  half 
a  bushel." 

"  Thy  father  might,  perhaps,  have  used  that  letter  to 
signify  the  measure  which  thou  speakest  of,  in  the  same 
way  as  I,  in  my  mathematics,  use  divers  letters  for  known 
and  unknown  quantities  ;  but  thou  must  forget  that  which 
thy  father  taught  thee,  and  commence,  de  novo.  Dost  thou 
understand  ?  " 

"  No,  I  don't." 

"  Then,  little  Jacob,  that  represents  the  letter  A,  and 
whatever  else  Mr  Knapps  may  tell  thee,  thou  wilt  believe. 
Return,  Jacob,  and  be  docile." 


Chapter  IV 

Sleight  of  hand  at  the  expense  of  my  feet — Filling  a  man's  pockets  as  great 
an  offence  as  picking  them,  and  punished  accordingly — A  turn  out,  a  turn 
up,  and  a  turn  in — Early  impressions  removed,  and  redundancy  of  feeling 
corrected  by  a  spell  of  the  rattan. 

I  DID  not  quit  Mr  Knapps  until  I  had  run  through  the 
alphabet,  and  then  returned  to  my  place,  that  I  might  con 
it  over  at  my  leisure,  puzzling  myself  with  the  strange 
complexity  of  forms  of  which  the  alphabet  was  composed. 
I  felt  heated  and  annoyed  by  the  constraint  of  my  shoes, 
always  an  object  of  aversion  from  the  time  I  had  put  them 
on.  I  drew  my  foot  out  of  one,  then  out  of  the  other,  and 
thought  no  more  of  them  for  some  time.  In  the  mean 
while  the  boys  next  me  had  passed  them  on  with  their  feet 
to  the  others,  and  thus  were  they  shuiBed  along  until  they 
were  right  up  to  the  master's  desk.  I  missed  them,  and 
perceiving  that  there  was  mirth  at  my  expense,  I  narrowly 


28  Jacob  Faithful 

and  quietly  watched  up  and  down,  until  I  perceived  one  of 
the  head  boys  of  the  school,  who  sat  nearest  to  the  Domine, 
catch  up  one  of  my  shoes,  and  the  Domine  being  then  in  an 
absent  fit,  drop  it  into  his  coat-pocket.  A  short  time  after- 
wards he  got  up,  went  to  Mr  Knapps,  put  a  question  to 
him,  and  while  it  was  being  answered,  he  dropped  the 
other  into  the  pocket  of  the  usher,  and  tittering  to  the 
other  boys  returned  to  his  seat.  I  said  nothing ;  but  when 
the  hours  of  school  were  over,  the  Domine  looked  at  his 
watch,  blew  his  nose,  which  made  the  whole  of  the  boys 
pop  up  their  heads,  like  the  clansmen  of  Rhoderick  Dhu, 
when  summoned  by  his  horn,  folded  up  his  large  pocket- 
handkerchief  slowly  and  reverently,  as  if  it  were  a  banner, 
put  it  into  his  pocket,  and  uttered  in  a  solemn  tone, 
"  Tempus  est  ludendi.^*  As  this  Latin  phrase  was  used  every 
day  at  the  same  hour,  every  boy  in  the  school  understood 
so  much  Latin.  A  rush  from  all  the  desks  ensued,  and 
amidst  shouting,  yelling,  and  leaping,  every  soul  disap- 
peared except  myself,  who  remained  fixed  to  my  form. 
The  Domine  rose  from  his  pulpit  and  descended,  the  usher 
did  the  same,  and  both  approached  me  on  their  way  to  their 
respective  apartments. 

"  Jacob  Faithful,  why  still  porest  thou  over  thy  book — 
didst  thou  not  understand  that  the  hours  of  recreation  had 
arrived  ?  Why  risest  thou  not  upon  thy  feet  like  the 
others  ? " 

*'  'Cause  I've  got  no  shoes." 

*'  And  where  are  thy  shoes,  Jacob  ?  " 

"  One's  in  your  pocket,"  replied  I,  "  and  t'other's  in 
his'n." 

Each  party  placed  their  hands  behind,  and  felt  the  truth 
of  the  assertion. 

**  Expound,  Jacob,"  said  the  Domine,  "  who  hath  done 
this  ?  " 

**  The  big  boy  with  the  red  hair,  and  a  face  picked  all 
over  with   holes   like  the  strainers  in   master's  kitchen," 
replied  L 
.  **  Mr  Knapps,  it  would  be  infra  dig.  on  my  part,  and 


Jacob  Faithful  29 

also  on  yours,  to  suiFer  this  disrespect  to  pass  unnoticed. 
Ring  in  the  boys." 

The  boys  were  rung  in,  and  I  was  desired  to  point  out 
the  offender,  which  I  immediately  did,  and  who  as  stoutly 
denied  the  offence  ;  but  he  had  abstracted  my  shoe-strings, 
and  put  them  into  his  own  shoes.  I  recognised  them,  and 
it  was  sufficient. 

*'  Barnaby  Bracegirdle,"  said  the  Domine,  "  thou  art 
convicted,  not  only  of  disrespect  towards  me  and  Mr 
Knapps,  but  further,  of  the  grievous  sin  of  lying.  Simon 
Swapps,  let  him  be  hoisted." 

He  was  hoisted  :  his  nether  garments  descended,  and 
then  the  birch  descended  with  all  the  vigour  of  the 
Domine's  muscular  arm.  Barnaby  Bracegirdle  showed 
every  symptom  of  his  disapproval  of  the  measures  taken  ; 
but  Simon  Swapps  held  fast,  and  the  Domine  flogged  fast. 
After  a  minute's  flagellation,  Barnaby  was  let  down,  his 
yellow  tights  pulled  up,  and  the  boys  dismissed.  Barnaby's 
face  was  red,  but  the  antipodes  were  redder.  The  Domine 
departed,  leaving  us  together, — he  adjusting  his  inex- 
pressibles, I  putting  in  my  shoe-strings.  By  the  time 
Barnaby  had  buttoned  up  and  wiped  his  eyes,  I  had 
succeeded  in  standing  in  my  shoes.  There  we  were 
tete-a-tete. 

"Now,  then,"  said  Barnaby,  holding  one  fist  to  my 
face,  while,  with  the  other  open  hand  he  rubbed  behind, 
"  come  out  in  the  play-ground,  Mr  Cinderella^  and  see  if  I 
won't  drub  you  within  an  inch  of  your  life." 

"It's  no  use  crying,"  said  I  soothingly:  for  I  had  not 
wished  him  to  be  flogged.  "  "What's  done  can't  be 
helped.     Did  it  hurt  you  much  }  " 

This  intended  consolation  was  taken  for  sarcasm. 
Barnaby   stormed. 

"  Take  it  coolly,"  observed  I. 

Barnaby  waxed  even  more  wroth. 

"  Better  luck  next  time,"  continued  I,  trying  to  soothe 
him. 

Barnaby  was  outrageous — he  shook  his  fist  and  ran  into 


3©  Jacob  Faithful 

the  play-ground,  daring  me  to  follow  him.  His  threats 
had  no  weight  with  me  ;  not  wishing  to  remain  in-doors, 
I  followed  him  in  a  minute  or  two,  when  I  found  him 
surrounded  by  the  other  boys,  to  whom  he  was  in  loud 
and  vehement  harangue. 

"  Cinderella,  where's  your  glass  slippers  ? "  cried  the 
boys,   as  I  made  my  appearance. 

"  Come  out,  you  water-rat,"  cried  Barnaby  :  **  you  son 
of  a  cinder  !  " 

"  Come  out  and  fight  him,  or  else  you're  a  coward  !  " 
exclaimed  the  whole  host,  from  No.  I  to  No.  62  inclusive. 

*'  He  has  had  beating  enough  already  to  my  mind," 
replied  I ;  "  but  he  had  better  not  touch  me — I  can  use 
my  arms." 

A  ring  was  formed,  in  the  centre  of  which  I  found 
Barnaby  and  myself.  He  took  off  his  clothes,  and  I  did 
the  same.  He  was  much  older  and  stronger  than  I,  and 
knew  something  about  fighting.  One  boy  came  forward 
as  my  second.  Barnaby  advanced  and  held  out  his  hand, 
which  I  shook  heartily,  thinking  it  was  all  over ;  but 
immediately  received  a  right  and  left  on  the  face,  which 
sent  me  reeling  backwards.  This  was  a  complete  mystery, 
but  it  raised  my  bile,  and  I  returned  it  with  interest.  I 
was  very  strong  in  my  arms,  as  may  be  supposed ;  and  I 
threw  them  about  like  sails  of  a  windmill,  never  hitting 
straight  out,  but  with  semicircular  blows,  which  descended 
on  or  about  his  ears.  On  the  contrary,  his  blows  were  all 
received  straightforward,  and  my  nose  and  face  were  soon 
covered  with  blood.  As  I  warmed  with  pain  and  rage,  I 
flung  about  my  arms  at  random,  and  Barnaby  gave  me  a 
knockdown  blow.  I  was  picked  up,  and  sat  upon  my 
second's  knee,  who  whispered  to  me,  as  I  spat  the  blood 
out  of  my  mouth,  "  Take  it  coolly  and  make  sure  when 
you  hit." 

My  own — my  father's  maxim — coming  from  another,  it 
struck  with  double  force,  and  I  never  forgot  it  during  the 
remainder  of  the  fight.  Again  we  were  standing  up  face 
to  face  ;  again  I  received  it  right  and  left,  and  returned  it 


Jacob  Faithful  31 

upon  his  right  and  left  ears.  Barnaby  rushed  in — I  was 
down  again. 

"  Better  luck  next  time,"  said  I  to  my  second,  as  cool  as 
a  cucumber. 

A  third  and  a  fourth  round  succeeded,  all  apparently  in 
Barnaby's  favour,  but  really  in  mine.  My  face  was  beat  to 
a  mummy,  but  he  was  what  is  termed  groggy,  from  the 
constant  return  of  blows  on  the  side  of  the  head.  Again 
we  stood  up,  panting  and  exhausted.  Barnaby  rushed  at 
me  and  I  avoided  him  :  before  he  could  return  to  the  attack, 
I  had  again  planted  two  severe  blows  upon  his  ears,  and  he 
reeled.  He  shook  his  head,  and,  with  his  fists  in  the 
attitude  of  defence,  asked  me  whether  I  had  had  enough. 

**He  has^''  said  my  second  ;  "  stick  to  him  now,  Jacob, 
and  you'll  beat  him." 

I  did  stick  to  him  ;  three  or  four  more  blows  applied  to 
the  same  part  finished  him,  and  he  fell  senseless  on  the 
ground. 

"  You've  settled  him,"  cried  my  second. 

**  What's  done  can't  be  helped,"  rephed  I.  *'  Is  he 
dead  ? " 

"What's  all  this  ?  "  cried  Mr  Knapps,  pressing  his  way 
through  the  crowd,  followed  by  the  matron. 

"Barnaby  and  Cinderella  having  it  out,  sir,"  said  one 
of  the  elder  boys. 

The  matron,  who  had  already  taken  a  liking  for  me, 
because  I  was  good-looking,  and  because  I  had  been 
recommended  to  her  care  by  Mrs  Drummond,  ran  to  me. 

*•  Well,"  says  she,  "  if  the  Domine  don't  punish  that 
big  brute  for  this,  I'll  see  whether  I'm  anybody  or  not ; " 
and  taking  me  by  the  hand,  she  led  me  away.  In  the 
meantime  Mr  Knapps  surveyed  Barnaby,  who  was  still 
senseless,  and  desired  the  other  boys  to  bring  him  in,  and 
lay  him  on  his  bed.  He  breathed  hard,  but  still  remained 
senseless,  and  a  surgeon  was  sent  for,  who  found  it 
necessary  to  bleed  him  copiously.  He  then,  at  the  request 
of  the  matron,  came  to  me  \  my  features  were  undis- 
tinguishable,  but  elsewhere  I  was  all  right.  As  I  stripped 
he  examined  my  arms. 


32  Jacob  Faithful 

"  It  seemed  strange,"  observed  he,  "  that  the  bigger 
boy  should  be  so  severely  punished  ;  but  this  boy's  arms 
are  like  little  sledge-hammers.  I  recommend  you,"  said  he 
to  the  other  boys,  "  not  to  fight  with  him,  for  some  day  or 
other  he'll  kill  one  of  you." 

This  piece  of  advice  was  not  forgotten  by  the  other 
boys,  and  from  that  day  I  was  the  cock  of  the  school. 
The  name  of  Cinderella,  given  me  by  Barnaby,  in  ridicule 
of  my  mother's  death,  was  immediately  abandoned,  and 
I  suffered  no  more  persecution.  It  was  the  custom  of  the 
Domine,  whenever  two  boys  fought  to  flog  them  both ; 
but  in  this  instance,  it  was  not  followed  up,  because  I  was 
not  the  aggressor,  and  my  adversary  narrowly  escaped 
with  his  life.  I  was  under  the  matron's  care  for  a  week, 
and  Barnaby  under  the  surgeon's  hands  for  about  the  same 
time. 

Neither  was  I  less  successful  in  my  studies.  I  learnt 
rapidly  after  I  had  conquered  the  first  rudiments  ;  but  I 
had  another  difficulty  to  conquer,  which  was  my  habit  of 
construing  everything  according  to  my  confined  ideas  ;  the 
force  of  association  had  become  so  strong  that  I  could  not 
overcome  it  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.  Mr  Knapps 
continually  complained  of  my  being  obstinate,  when,  in 
fact,  I  was  anxious  to  please,  as  well  as  to  learn.  For 
instance,  in  spelling,  the  first  syllable  always  produced  the 
association  with  something  connected  with  my  former  way 
of  life.  I  recollect  the  Domine  once,  and  only  once,  gave 
me  a  caning,  about  a  fortnight  after  I  went  to  the  school. 

I  had  been  brought  up  by  Mr  Knapps  as  contumelious. 

"Jacob  Faithful,  how  is  this  ?  thine  head  is  good,  yet 
wilt  thou  refuse  learning.  Tell  me  now,  what  does  c-a-t 
spell  ?  " 

It  was  the  pitch-pipe  to  cat-head,  and  I  answered 
accordingly. 

"  Nay,  Jacob,  it  spells  cat ;  take  care  of  thy  head  on 
the  next  reply.  Understand  me,  head  is  not  understood. 
Jacob,  thy  head  is  in  jeopardy.  Now,  Jacob,  what  does 
m-a-t  spell  ?  " 


Jacob  Faithful  33 

"  Chafing-mat ^''  replied  I. 

**  It  spells  mat  only,  silly  boy ;  the  chafing  will  be  on 
my  part  directly.     Now,  Jacob,  what  does  d-o-g  spell  ?  " 

"  Dog-kennel." 

"  Dog,  Jacob,  without  the  kennel.  Thou  art  very 
contumelious,  and  deservest  to  be  rolled  in  the  kennel. 
Now,  Jacob,  this  is  the  last  time  that  thou  triflest  with 
me  J  what  does  h-a-t  spell  ?  " 

"  Fur  cap,"  replied  I,  after  some  hesitation. 

"Jacob,  I  feel  the  wrath  rising  within  me,  yet  would 
I  fain  spare  thee  ;  if  h-a-t  spell  fur-cap,  pray  advise  me, 
what  doth  c-a-p  spell,  then  ?  " 

"  Capstern.'" 

**  Indeed,  Jacob,  thy  stern  as  well  as  thy  head,  are  in 
danger,  and  I  suppose  then  iv-i-n-d  spells  windlass,  does  it 
not  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  pleased  to  find  that  he  agreed 
with  me. 

*'  Upon  the  same  principle,  what  does  r-a-t  spell  ?" 

**  Rat,  sir,"  replied  I. 

'•  Nay,  Jacob,  r-a-t  must  spell  rattan,  and  as  thou  hast 
missed  thine  own  mode  of  spelling,  thou  shalt  not  miss  the 
cane."  The  Domine  then  applied  it  to  my  shoulders  with 
considerable  unction,  much  to  the  delight  of  Mr  Knapps, 
who  thought  the  punishment  was  much  too  small  for  the 
offence.  But  I  soon  extricated  myself  from  these  associa- 
tions, as  my  ideas  extended,  and  was  considered  by  the 
Domine  as  the  cleverest  boy  in  the  school.  Whether  it 
was  from  natural  intellect,  or  from  my  brain  having  lain 
fallow,  as  it  were,  for  so  many  years,  or  probably  from 
the  two  causes  combined,  I  certainly  learnt  almost  by 
instinct.  I  read  my  lesson  once  over,  and  threw  my  book 
aside,  for  I  knew  it  all.  I  had  not  been  six  months  at  the 
school,  before  I  discovered  that,  in  a  thousand  instances, 
the  affection  of  a  father  appeared  towards  me  under  the 
rough  crust  of  the  Domine.  I  think  it  was  on  the  third 
day  of  the  seventh  month,  that  I  afforded  him  a  day  of 
triumph  and  warming  of  his  heart,  when  he  took  me  for 

J.F.  C 


34  Jacob  Faithful 

the  first  time  into  his  little  study,  and  put  the  Latin 
Accidence  into  my  hands.  I  learnt  my  first  lesson  in  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  ;  and  I  remember  well  how  that  un- 
smiling, grave  man  looked  into  my  smiling  eyes,  parting 
the  chestnut  curls,  which  the  matron  would  not  cut  off, 
from  my  brows,  and  saying,  Bene  fecisti,  Jacobe.  Many 
times  afterwards,  when  the  lesson  was  over,  he  would  fix 
his  eyes  upon  me,  fall  back  on  his  chair,  and  make  me 
recount  all  I  could  remember  of  my  former  life,  which  was 
really  nothing  but  a  record  of  perceptions  and  feelings. 
He  could  attend  to  me,  and  as  I  related  some  early  and 
singular  impression,  some  conjecture  of  what  I  saw,  yet 
could  not  comprehend,  on  the  shore  which  I  had  never 
touched,  he  would  rub  his  hands  with  enthusiasm,  and 
exclaim,  *'  I  have  found  a  new  book — an  album,  whereon 
I  may  write  the  deeds  of  heroes  and  the  words  of  sages. 
Carissime  Jacohe\  how  happy  shall  we  be  when  we  get 
into  Virgil !  "  I  hardly  need  say  that  I  loved  him — I  did 
so  from  my  heart,  and  learned  with  avidity  to  please  him. 
I  felt  that  I  was  of  consequence — my  confidence  in  myself 
was  unbounded.  I  walked  proudly,  yet  I  was  not  vain. 
My  school-fellows  hated  me,  but  they  feared  me  as  much 
for  my  own  prowess  as  for  my  interest  with  the  nwster ; 
but  still  many  were  the  bitter  jibes  and  inuendoes  which  I 
was  obliged  to  hear  as  I  sat  down  with  them  to  our  meals. 
At  other  times  I  held  communion  with  the  Domine,  the 
worthy  old  matron,  and  my  books.  We  walked  out  every 
day,  at  first  attended  by  Mr  Knapps,  the  usher.  The 
boys  would  not  walk  with  me  without  they  were  ordered, 
and  if  ordered,  most  unwillingly.  Yet  I  had  given  no 
cause  of  offence.  The  matron  found  it  out,  told  the 
Domine,  and  ever  after  that,  the  Domine  attended  the 
boys,  and  led  me  by  the  hand. 

This  was  of  the  greatest  advantage  to  me,  as  he  answered 
all  my  questions,  which  were  not  few,  and  each  day  I 
advanced  in  every  variety  of  knowledge.  Before  I  had 
been  eighteen  months  at  school,  the  Domine  was  unhappy 
without  my  company,  and  I  was  equally  anxious  for  his 


Jacob  Faithful  ^^ 

presence.  He  was  a  father  to  me,  and  I  loved  him  as  a 
son  should  love  a  father,  and,  as  it  will  hereafter  prove,  he 
was  my  guide  through  life. 

But  although  the  victory  over  Barnaby  Bracegirdle,  and 
the  idea  of  my  prowess  procured  me  an  enforced  respect, 
still  the  Domine's  good-will  towards  me  was  the  occasion 
of  a  settled  hostility.  Affront  me,  or  attack  me  openly 
they  dare  not ;  but  supported  as  the  boys  were  by  Mr 
Knapps,  the  usher,  who  was  equally  jealous  of  my  favour, 
and  equally  mean  in  spirit,  they  caballed  to  ruin  me,  if 
possible,  in  the  good  opinion  of  my  master.  Barnaby 
Bracegirdle  had  a  talent  for  caricature,  which  was  well 
known  to  all  but  the  Domine.  His  first  attempt  against 
me  was  a  caricature  of  my  mother's  death,  in  which  she 
was  represented  as  a  lamp  supplied  from  a  gin-bottle,  and 
giving  flame  out  of  her  mouth.  This  was  told  to  me,  but 
I  did  not  see  it.  It  was  given  by  Barnaby  to  Mr  Knapps, 
who  highly  commended  it,  and  put  it  into  his  desk- 
After  which,  Barnaby  made  an  oft-repeated  caricature  of 
the  Domine  with  a  vast  nose,  which  he  showed  to  the 
usher  as  my  performance.  The  usher  understood  what 
Barnaby  was  at,  and  put  it  into  his  desk  without  comment. 
Several  other  ludicrous  caricatures  were  made  of  the 
Domine,  and  of  the  matron,  all  of  which  were  consigned 
to  Mr  Knapps  by  the  boys,  as  being  the  production  of  my 
pencil  ;  but  this  was  not  sufficient — it  was  necessary  I 
should  be  more  clearly  identified.  It  so  happened,  that 
one  evening, when  sitting  with  the  Domine  at  my  latin,  the 
matron  and  Mr  Knapps  being  in  the  adjoining  room,  the 
light,  which  had  burnt  close  down,  fell  in  the  socket  and 
went  out.  The  Domine  rose  to  get  another ;  the  matron 
also  got  up  to  fetch  away  the  candlestick  with  the  same 
intent.  They  met  in  the  dark,  and  ran  their  heads 
together  pretty  hard.  As  this  event  was  only  known  to 
Mr  Knapps  and  myself,  he  communicated  it  to  Barnaby, 
wondering  whether  I  should  not  make  it  a  subject  of  one  of 
my  caricatures.  Barnaby  took  the  hint ;  in  the  course  of 
a  few  hours,  this  caricature  was  added  to  the  others.     Mr 


^6  Jacob  Faithful 

Knapps,  to  further  his  views,  took  an  opportunity  to 
mention  with  encomium  my  talent  for  drawing,  adding 
that  he  had  seen  several  of  my  performances.  "  The  boy 
hath  talent,"  replied  the  Domine  j  "  he  is  a  rich  mine, 
from  which  much  precious  metal  is  to  be  obtained." 

"  I  hear  that  thou  hast  the  talent  of  drawing,  Jacob," 
said  he  to  me,  a  day  or  two  afterwards. 
"  I  never  had  in  my  life,  sir,"  replied  I. 
"  Nay,    Jacob ;    I   like    modesty,    but    modesty    should 
never  lead  to  a  denial  of  the  truth.     Remember,  Jacob, 
that  thou  do  not  repeat  the  fault." 

I  made  no  answer,  as  I  felt  convinced  that  I  was  not 
in  fault ;  but  that  evening  I  requested  the  Domine  to 
lend  me  a  pencil,  as  I  wished  to  try  and  draw.  For 
some  days,  various  scraps  of  my  performance  were  pro- 
duced, and  received  commendation.  "  The  boy  draweth 
well,"  observed  the  Domine  to  Mr  Knapps,  as  he  examined 
my  performance  through  his  spectacles. 

*'  Why  should  he  have  denied  his  being  able  to  draw  ? " 
observed  the  usher. 

"  It  was  a  fault  arising  from  modesty  or  want  of  con- 
fidence— even  a  virtue,  carried  to  excess,  may  lead  us 
into  error." 

The  next  attempt  of  Barnaby  was  to  obtain  the  Cornelius 
Nepos,  which  I  then  studied.  This  was  effected  by  Mr 
Knapps,  who  took  it  out  of  the  Domine's  study,  and  put 
it  into  Barnaby's  possession,  who  drew  on  the  fly-leaf, 
on  which  was  my  name,  a  caricature  head  of  the  Domine  j 
and  under  my  own  name,  which  I  had  written  on  the 
leaf,  added,  in  my  hand,  fecit,  so  that  it  appeared,  Jacob 
Faithful  y^aV.  Having  done  this,  the  leaf  was  torn  out 
of  the  book,  and  consigned  to  the  usher  with  the  rest. 
The  plot  was  now  ripe ;  and  the  explosion  soon  ensued. 
Mr  Knapps  told  the  Domine  that  I  drew  caricatures  of 
my  school-fellows.  The  Domine  taxed  me,  and  I  denied 
it.     "  So  you  denied  drawing,"  observed  the  usher. 

A  few  days  passed  away,  when  Mr  Knapps  informed 
the  Domine   that  I  had   been  caricaturing  him  and    Mrs 


Jacob  Faithful  37 

Bately,  the  matron,  and  that  he  had  proofs  of  it.  I  had 
then  gone  to  bed ;  the  Domine  was  much  surprised,  and 
thought  it  impossible  that  I  could  be  so  ungrateful.  Mr 
Knapps  said  that  he  should  make  the  charge  openly,  and 
prove  it  the  next  morning  in  the  school-room  •,  and  wound 
up  the  wrong  by  describing  me,  in  several  points,  as  a 
cunning,  good-for-nothing,  although  clever  boy. 


Chapter  V 

Mr  Knapps  thinks  to  catch  me  napping,  but  the  Plot  is  discovered,  and 
Barnaby  Bracegirdle  is  obliged  to  loosen  his  braces  for  the  second  time 
on  my  account — Drawing  caricatures  ends  in  drawing  blood — The  Usher 
is  ushered  out  of  the  school,  and  I  am  very  nearly  ushered  into  the  next 
world,  but  instead  of  being  bound  on  so  long  a  journey,  I  am  bound 
"  'Prentice  to  a  Waterman." 

Ignorant  of  what  had  passed,  I  slept  soundly  -,  and  the 
next  morning  found  the  matron  very  grave  with  me,  which 
I  could  not  comprehend.  The  Domine  also  took  no  notice 
of  my  morning  salute  :  but  supposing  him  to  be  wrapt 
in  Euclid  at  the  time,  I  thought  little  of  it.  The  breakfast 
passed  over,  and  the  bell  rang  for  school.  We  were  all 
assembled ;  the  Domine  walked  in  with  a  very  magisterial 
air,  followed  by  Mr  Knapps,  who,  instead  of  parting 
company  when  he  arrived  at  his  own  desk,  continued  his 
course  with  the  Domine  to  his  pulpit.  We  all  knew  that 
there  was  something  in  the  wind  ;  but  of  all,  perhaps  I 
was  the  least  alarmed.  The  Domine  unfolded  his  large 
handkerchief,  waved  it,  and  blew  his  nose  and  the  school 
into  profound  silence.  **  Jacob  Faithful,  draw  near,"  said 
he,  in  a  tone  which  proved  that  the  affair  was  serious.  I 
drew  near,  wondering.  "  Thou  hast  been  accused  by 
Mr  Knapps  of  caricaturing,  and  holding  up  to  the  ridicule 
of  the  school,  me — thy  master.  Upon  any  other  boy, 
such  disrespect  should  be  visited  severely ;  but  from  thee, 
Jacob,  I  must  add,  in  the  words  of  Caesar,  '  Et  tu  Brute,'' 
I  expected,  I  had  a  right  to   expect,  otherwise.     Omnia 


38  Jacob  Faithful 

vitia  ingratitudo  in  se  complectitur.   Thou  understandest  me, 
Jacob — guilty,  or  not  guilty? " 

"  Not  guilty,  sir,"  replied  I,  firmly. 
"  He  pleadeth  not  guilty,  Mr  Knapps  j  proceed,  then, 
to  prove  thy  charge." 

Mr  Knapps  then  went  to  his  desk,  and  brought  out  the 
drawings  with  which  he  had  been  supplied  by  Barnaby 
Bracegirdle  and  the  other  boys.  *'  These  drawings,  sir, 
which  you  will  please  to  look  over,  have  been  all  given 
up  to  me  as  the  performance  of  Jacob  Faithful.  At  first, 
I  could  not  believe  it  to  be  true  ;  but  you  will  perceive, 
at  once,  that  they  are  all  by  the  same  hand." 

"  That  I  acknowledge,"  said  the  Domine ;  "  and  all 
reflect  upon  my  nose.  It  is  true  that  my  nose  is  of  large 
dimensions,  but  it  was  the  will  of  Heaven  that  I  should 
be  so  endowed ;  yet  are  the  noses  of  these  figures  even 
larger  than  mine  own  could  warrant,  if  the  limner  were 
correct,  and  not  malicious.  Still  have  they  merit,"  con- 
tinued the  Domine,  looking  at  some  of  them ;  and  I  heard 
a  gentle  cluch,  cluck,  in  his  throat,  as  he  laughed  at  his 
own  OTzV-representations.  **  Artis  adumbrata  meruit  ceu 
sedula  laudem,  as  Prudentius  hath  it.  I  have  no  time  to 
finish  the  quotation." 

"  Here  is  one  drawing,  sir,"  continued  Mr  Knapps, 
"  which  proves  to  me  that  Jacob  Faithful  is  the  party ; 
in  which  you  and  Mrs  Bately  are  shown  up  to  ridicule. 
Who  would  have  been  aware  that  the  candle  went  out  in 
your  study,  except  Jacob  Faithful  ?  " 

"I  perceive,"  replied  the  Domine,  looking  at  it  through 
his  spectacles,  when  put  into  his  hand,  "  the  arcana  of 
the  study  have  been  violated." 

"  But  sir,"  continued  Mr  Knapps,  **  here  is  a  more 
convincing  proof.  You  observe  this  caricature  of  your- 
self, with  his  own  name  put  to  it — his  own  handwriting. 
I  recognised  it  immediately  ;  and  happening  to  turn  over 
his  Cornelius  Nepos,  observed  the  first  blank  leaf  torn 
out.  Here  it  is,  sir,  and  you  will  observe  that  it  fits  on 
to  the  remainder  of  the  leaf  in  the  book  exactly." 


Jacob  Faithful  39 

**  I  perceive  that  it  doth  j  and  am  grieved  to  find  that 
such  is  the  case.  Jacob  Faithful,  thou  art  convicted  of 
disrespect  and  of  falsehood.     Where  is  Simon  Swapps  ? " 

"If  you  please,  sir,  may  I  not  defend  myself.?"  replied 
I.     "  Am  I  to  be  flogged  unheard  ? " 

"Nay,  that  were  an  injustice,"  replied  the  Domine; 
**  but  what  defence  canst  thou  offer  ?  0  puer  infelix  et 
sceleratus  I " 

"May  I  look  at  those  caricatures,  sir  .''"  said  I. 

The  Domine  handed  them  to  me  in  silence.  I  looked 
them  all  over,  and  immediately  knew  them  to  be  drawn 
by  Barnaby  Bracegirdle.  The  last  particularly  struck  me. 
I  had  felt  confounded  and  frightened  with  the  strong 
evidence  brought  against  me ;  but  this  re-assured  me, 
and  I  spoke  boldly.  "  These  drawings  are  by  Barnaby 
Bracegirdle,  sir,  and  not  by  me.  I  never  drew  a  caricature 
in  my  life." 

"  So  didst  thou  assert  that  thou  couldst  not  draw,  and 
afterwards  provedst  by  thy  pencil  to  the  contrary,  Jacob 
Faithful." 

"  I  knew  not  that  I  was  able  to  draw  when  I  said  so  ; 
but  I  wished  to  draw  when  you  supposed  I  was  able — 
I  did  not  like  that  you  should  give  me  credit  for  what 
I  could  not  do.  It  was  to  please  you,  sir,  that  I  asked 
for  the  pencil." 

**  I  wish  it  were  as  thou  statest,  Jacob — I  wish  from 
my  inmost  soul  that  thou  wert  not  guilty." 

"  Will  you  ask  Mr  Knapps  from  whom  he  had  these 
drawings,  and  at  what  time  "i  There  are  a  great  many  of 
them." 

"  Answer,  Mr  Knapps,  to  the  question  of  Jacob 
Faithful." 

*'  They  have  been  given  to  me  by  the  boys  at  different 
times  during  this  last  month." 

"  Well,  Mr  Knapps,  point  out  the  boys  who  gave 
them." 

Mr  Knapps  called  out  eight  or  ten  boys,  who  came 
forward. 


40  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Did  Barnaby  Bracegirdle  give  you  none  of  them,  Mr 
Knapps  ? "  said  I,  perceiving  that  Barnaby  was  not 
summoned. 

*<  No,"  replied  Mr  Knapps. 

"  If  you  please,  sir,"  said  I  to  the  Domine,  "  with 
respect  to  the  leaf  out  of  my  Nepos,  the  Jacob  Faithful 
was  written  on  it  by  me,  on  the  day  that  you  gave  it  to 
me  ;  but  the  fecit,  and  the  caricature  of  yourself,  is  not 
mine.     How  it  came  there  I  don't  know." 

"Thou  hast  disproved  nothing,  Jacob,"  replied  the 
Domine. 

"  But  I  have  proved  something,  sir.  On  v/hat  day 
was  it  that  I  asked  you  for  the  pencil  to  draw  with  ? 
"Was  it  not  on  a  Saturday  ? " 

**  Last  Saturday  week,  I  think  it  was." 

"Well,  then,  sir,  Mr  Knapps  told  you  the  day  before, 
that  I  could  draw  ?  " 

**  He  did  ;  and  thou  deniedst  it." 

"How,  then,  does  Mr  Knapps  account  for  not  produc- 
ing those  caricatures  of  mine,  which  he  says  that  he  has 
collected  for  a  whole  month  ?  Why  didn't  he  give  them 
to  you  before  ?  " 

*'  Thou  puttest  it  shrewdly,"  replied  the  Domine. 
"  Answer,  Mr  Knapps,  why  didst  thou,  for  a  fortnight  at 
the  least,  conceal  thy  knowledge  of  his  offence  ? " 

"  I  wished  to  have  more  proofs,"  replied  the  usher. 

"  Thou  hearest,  Jacob  Faithful." 

"  Pray,  sir,  did  you  ever  hear  me  speak  of  my  poor  mother 
but  with  kindness  ? " 

"  Never,  Jacob  ;  thou  hast  ever  appeared  dutiful." 

"  Please,  sir,  to  call  up  John  Williams." 

"  John  Williams,  No.  37,  draw  near." 

"  Williams,"  said  I,  "  did  you  not  tell  me  that  Barnaby 
Bracegirdle  had  drawn  my  mother  flaming  at  the  mouth  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  did." 

My  indignation  now  found  vent  in  a  torrent  of  tears. 
"  Now,  sir,"  cried  I,  "  if  you  believe  that  I  drew  the 
caricatures  of  you  and  Mrs  Bately — did  I  draw  this,  which 


Jacob  Faithful  41 

is  by  the  same  person  ?  "  And  I  handed  up  to  the  Doinine 
the  caricature  of  my  mother,  which  Mr  Knapps  had  in- 
advertently produced  at  the  bottom  of  the  rest.  Mr  Knapps 
turned  white  as  a  sheet. 

The  Domine  looked  at  the  caricature,  and  was  silent  for 
some  time.     At  last  he  turned  to  the  usher. 

"  From  whom  didst  thou  obtain  this,  Mr  Knapps  ?  " 

Mr  Knapps  replied,  in  his  confusion.  "  From  Barnaby 
Bracegirdle." 

**  It  was  but  this  moment,  thou  didst  state  that  thou 
hadst  received  none  from  Barnaby  Bracegirdle.  Thou  hast 
contradicted  thyself,  Mr  Knapps.  Jacob  did  not  draw  his 
mother  ;  and  the  pencil  is  the  same  as  that  which  drew  the 
rest — ergo,  he  did  not,  I  really  believe,  draw  one  of  them. 
Iteproculfraudes.  God,  I  thank  thee,  that  the  innocent  have 
been  protected.  Narrowly  hast  thou  escaped  these  toils, 
O  Jacob — Cutn  populo  et  duce  fraudulento.  And  now  for 
punishment.  Barnaby  Bracegirdle,  thou  gavest  this 
caricature  to  Mr  Knapps  ;  from  whence  hadst  thou  it  ? 
Lie  not." 

Barnaby  turned  red  and  white,  and  then  acknowledged 
that  the  drawing  was  his  own. 

**  You  boys,"  cried  the  Domine,  waving  his  rod  which 
he  had  seized,  "  you  gave  these  drawings  to  Mr  Knapps  ; 
tell  me  from  whom  they  came." 

The  boys,  frightened  at  the  Domine's  looks,  immediately 
replied  in  a  breath,  "  From  Barnaby  Bracegirdle." 

"Then,  Barnaby  Bracegirdle,  from  whom  didst  thou 
receive  them  ? "  inquired  the  Domine.  Barnaby  was 
dumbfounded.  **  Tell  the  truth  ;  didst  thou  not  draw 
them  thyself,  since  thou  didst  not  receive  them  from  other 
people." 

Barnaby  fell  upon  his  knees,  and  related  the  whole  cir- 
cumstances, particularly  the  way  in  which  the  Cornelius 
Nepos  had  been  obtained,  through  the  medium  of  Mr 
Knapps.  The  indignation  of  the  Domine  was  now  beyond 
all  bounds.  I  never  had  seen  him  so  moved  before.  He 
appeared  to  rise  at  least  a  foot  more  in  stature  :  his  eyes 


42  Jacob  Faithful 

sparkled,  his  great  nose  turned  red,  his  nostrils  dilated,  and 
his  mouth  was  more  than  half  open,  to  give  vent  to  the 
ponderous  breathing  from  his  chest.  His  vi^hole  appearance 
was  withering  to  the  culprits. 

"  For  thee,  thou  base,  degraded,  empty-headed,  and 
venomous  little  abortion  of  a  man,  I  have  no  words  to 
signify  my  contempt.  By  the  governors  of  this  charity  I 
leave  thy  conduct  to  be  judged  j  but  until  they  meet,  thou 
shalt  not  pollute  and  contaminate  the  air  of  this  school  by 
thy  presence.  If  thou  hast  one  spark  of  good  feeling  in 
thy  petty  frame,  beg  pardon  of  this  poor  boy,  whom  thou 
wouldst  have  ruined  by  thy  treachery.  If  not,  hasten  to 
depart,  lest  in  my  wrath  I  apply  to  the  teacher  the  punish- 
ment intended  for  the  scholar,  but  of  which  thou  art  more 
deserving  than  even  Barnaby  Bracegirdle." 

Mr  Knapps  said  nothing,  hastened  out  of  the  school,  and 
that  evening  quitted  his  domicile.  "When  the  Governors 
met  he  was  expelled  with  ignominy.  "  Simon  Swapps, 
hoist  up  Barnaby  Bracegirdle."  Most  strenuously  and  most 
indefatigably  was  the  birch  applied  to  Barnaby,  a  second 
time,  through  me.  Barnaby  howled  and  kicked,  howled 
and  kicked,  and  kicked  again.  At  last  the  Domine  was 
tired.  **  Consofiat  omne  nemus  strepitu  (for  nemiis  read 
schoolroom),"  exclaimed  the  Domine,  laying  down  the  rod, 
and  pulling  out  his  handkerchief  to  wipe  his  face.  "  Cal- 
citrat.  Ardescimt  germana  cade  himembres,  that  last  quotation 
is  happy,"  [cluck,  cluck].  He  then  blew  his  nose, 
addressed  the  boys  in  a  long  oration — paid  me  a  handsome 
compliment  upon  my  able  defence — proved  to  all  those  who 
chose  to  listen  to  him,  that  innocence  would  always  con- 
found guilt — intimated  to  Barnaby  that  he  must  leave  the 
school,  and  then,  finding  himself  worn  out  with  exhaustion, 
gave  the  boys  a  holiday,  that  they  might  reflect  upon  what 
had  passed,  and  which  they  duly  profited  by,  in  playing  at 
marbles,  and  peg  in  the  ring.  He  then  dismissed  the 
school,  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  led  me  into  his  study, 
where  he  gave  vent  to  his  strong  and  affectionate  feelings 
towards  me,  until  the  matron  came  to  tell  us  that  dinner 
was  ready. 


Jacob  Faithful  43 

After  this,  everything  went  on  well.  The  Domine's 
kindness  and  attention  were  unremitting,  and  no  one  ever 
thought  of  caballing  against  me.  My  progress  became 
most  rapid ;  I  had  conquered  Virgil,  taken  Tacitus  by 
storm,  and  was  reading  the  Odes  of  Horace.  I  had  passed 
triumphantly  through  decimals,  and  was  busily  employed 
in  mensuration  of  solids,  when  one  evening  I  was  seized 
with  a  giddiness  in  my  head.  I  complained  to  the  matron  ; 
she  felt  my  hands,  pronounced  me  feverish,  and  ordered 
me  to  bed.  I  passed  a  restless  night ;  the  next  morning  I 
attempted  to  rise,  but  a  heavy  burning  ball  rolled  as  it 
were  in  my  head,  and  I  fell  back  on  my  pillow.  The 
matron  came,  was  alarmed  at  my  state,  and  sent  for  the 
surgeon,  who  pronounced  that  I  had  caught  the  typhus 
fever,  then  raging  through  the  vicinity.  This  was  the 
first  time  in  my  life  that  I  had  known  a  day's  sickness — it 
was  a  lesson  I  had  yet  to  learn.  The  surgeon  bled  me, 
and  giving  directions  to  the  matron,  promised  to  call  again. 
In  a  few  hours  I  was  quite  delirious — my  senses  ran  wild. 
One  moment  I  thought  I  was  with  little  Sarah  Drummond, 
walking  in  green  fields,  holding  her  by  the  hand.  I  turned 
round,  and  she  was  no  longer  there,  but  I  was  in  the 
lighter,  and  my  hand  grasped  the  cinders  of  my  mother ; 
my  father  stood  before  me,  again  jumped  overboard  and 
disappeared ;  again  the  dark  black  column  ascended  from 
the  cabin,  and  I  was  prostrate  on  the  deck.  Then  I  was 
once  more  alone  on  the  placid  and  noble  Thames,  the  moon 
shining  bright,  and  the  sweep  in  my  hand,  tiding  up  the 
reach,  and  admiring  the  foliage  which  hung  in  dark 
shadows  over  the  banks.  I  saw  the  slopes  of  green,  so 
pure  and  so  fresh  by  that  sweet  light,  and  in  the  distance 
counted  the  numerous  spires  of  the  great  monster  city,  and 
beheld  the  various  bridges  spanning  over  the  water.  The 
faint  ripple  of  the  tide  was  harmony,  the  reflection  of  the 
moon,  beauty ;  I  felt  happiness  in  my  heart  -,  I  was  no 
longer  the  charity-boy,  but  the  pilot  of  the  barge.  Then, 
as  I  would  survey  the  scene,  there  was  something  that  in- 
variably presented  itself  between  my  eyes  and  the  object  of 


44  Jacob  Faithful 

my  scrutiny  ;  whichever  way  I  looked,  it  stood  in  my  way, 
and  I  could  not  remove  it.  It  was  like  a  cloud,  yet  trans- 
parent, and  with  a  certain  undefined  shape.  I  tried  for 
some  time,  but  in  vain,  to  decipher  it,  but  could  not.  At 
last  it  appeared  to  cohese  into  a  form — it  was  the  Domine's 
great  nose,  magnified  into  that  of  the  Scripture,  "  as  the 
tower  which  looketh  towards  Damascus."  My  temples 
throbbed  with  agony — I  burned  all  over.  I  had  no  exact 
notions  of  death  in  bed,  except  that  of  my  poor  mother, 
and  I  thought  that  I  was  to  die  like  her  ;  the  horrible  fear 
seized  me  that  all  this  burning  was  but  prefatory  to  burst- 
ing out  into  flame  and  consuming  into  ashes.  The  dread 
hung  about  my  young  heart  and  turned  that  to  ice,  while 
the  rest  of.  my  body  was  on  fire.  This  was  my  last  recol- 
lection, and  then  all  was  blank.  For  many  days  I  lay 
unconscious  of  either  pain  or  existence :  when  I  awoke 
from  my  stupor,  my  wandering  senses  gradually  returning, 
I  opened  my  eyes,  and  dimly  perceived  something  before 
me  that  cut  across  my  vision  in  a  diagonal  line.  As  the 
mist  cleared  away,  and  I  recovered  myself,  I  made  out  that 
it  was  the  nose  of  Domine  Dobiensis,  who  was  kneeling  at 
the  bed-side,  his  nose  adumbrating  the  coverlid  of  my  bed, 
his  spectacles  dimmed  with  tears,  and  his  long  grey  locks 
falling  on  each  side,  and  shadowing  his  eyes.  I  was  not 
frightened,  but  I  was  too  weak  to  stir  or  speak.  His 
prayer-book  was  in  his  hand,  and  he  still  remained  on  his 
knees.  He  had  been  praying  for  me.  Supposing  me  still 
insensible,  he  broke  out  in  the  following  soliloquy  : — 

**  Naviculator  parvus  pallidus — how  beautiful  even  in 
death  !  My  poor  lighter-boy,  that  hath  mastered  the  rudi- 
ments, and  triumphed  over  the  Accidence — but  to  die ! 
Levior  puer,  a  puerile  conceit,  yet  I  love  it,  as  I  do  thee. 
How  my  heart  bleeds  for  thee  !  The  icy  breath  of  death 
hath  whitened  thee,  as  the  hoar-frost  whitens  the  autumnal 
rose.  Why  wert  thou  transplanted  from  thine  own 
element  ?  Young  prince  of  the  stream — lord  of  the  lighter 
— *  Enaviganda  sive  reges ' — heir  apparent  to  the  tiller — be- 
trothed to  the  sweep — wedded  to  the  deck — how  art  thou 


Jacob  Faithful  45 

laid  low  !  Where  is  the  blooming  cheek,  ruddy  with  the 
browning  air  ?  where  the  bright  and  swimming  eye  ? 
Alas  !  where  ?  *  Turn  hreviter  dira  mortis  aperta  via  est^  as 
sweet  Tibullus  hath  it  j  "  and  the  Domine  sobbed  anew. 
"Had  this  stroke  fallen  upon  me,  the  aged,  the  ridiculed, 
the  little  regarded,  the  ripe  one  for  the  sickle,  it  would 
have  been  well — (yet  fain  would  I  have  instructed  thee 
still  more  before  I  quitted  the  scene — fain  have  left  thee 
the  mantle  of  learning).  Thou  knowest.  Lord,  that  I 
walk  wearily,  as  in  a  desert,  that  I  am  heavily  burdened, 
and  that  my  infirmities  are  many.  Must  I  then  mourn 
over  thee,  thou  promising  one — must  I  say  with  the 
epigrammatist — 

'  Hoc  jacet  in  tumulo,  raptus  puerilibus  annis, 
Jacob  Faithful  domini  cura,  dolorque  sui  ?  ' 

True,  most  true.  Hast  thou  quitted  the  element  thou  so 
joyously  controUedst,  and  hast  come  upon  the  terra  firma 
for  thy  grave  ? 

'  Si  licet  inde  sibi  tellus  placata,  levique, 
Artifices  non  levior  potes  esse  manu.' 

Earth,  lay  light  upon  the  lighter-boy — the  lotus,  the 
water-lily,  that  hath  been  cast  on  shore  to  die.  Hadst  thou 
lived,  Jacob,  I  would  have  taught  thee  the  Humanities ; 
we  would  have  conferred  pleasantly  together.  I  would 
have  poured  out  my  learning  to  thee,  my  Absalom,  my 
son  !  " 

He  rose,  and  stood  over  me ;  the  tears  coursed  down  his 
long  nose  from  both  his  eyes,  and  from  the  point  of  it 
poured  out  like  a  little  rain-gutter  upon  the  coverlid.  I 
understood  not  all  his  words,  but  I  understood  the  spirit 
of  them — it  was  love.  I  feebly  stretched  forth  my  arms, 
and  articulated  "Domine!"  The  old  man  clasped  his 
hands,  looked  upwards,  and  said,  *'  O  God,  I  thank  thee 
— he  will  live.  Hush,  hush,  my  sweet  one,  thou  must 
not  prate  ; "  and  he  retired  on  tiptoe,  and  I  heard  him 
mutter  triumphantly,  as  he  walked  away,  "  He  called  me 
'  Domme  ! '  " 


46  Jacob  Faithful 

From  that  hour  I  rapidly  recovered,  and  in  three 
weeks  was  again  at  my  studies.  I  was  now  within  six 
months  of  being  fourteen  years  old,  and  Mr  Drummond, 
who  had  occasionally  called  to  ascertain  my  progress,  came 
to  confer  with  the  Domine  upon  my  future  prospects. 
"  All  that  I  can  do  for  him,  Mr  Dobbs,"  said  my  former 
master,  "  is  to  bind  him  apprentice  to  serve  his  time  on  the 
River  Thames,  and  that  cannot  be  done  until  he  is  fourteen. 
Will  the  rules  of  the  school  permit  his  remaining  ?  " 

"  The  regulations  do  not  exactly,  but  I  will,"  replied 
the  Domine.  "  I  have  asked  nothing  for  my  long  services, 
and  the  governors  will  not  refuse  me  such  a  slight  favour  ; 
should  they,  I  will  charge  myself  with  him,  that  he  may 
not  lose  his  precious  time.  What  sayest  thou,  Jacob,  dost 
thou  feel  inclined  to  return  to  thy  father  Thames  ? " 

I  replied  in  the  affirmative,  for  the  recollections  of  my 
former  life  were  those  of  independence  and  activity. 

"  Thou  hast  decided  well,  Jacob — the  tailor  at  his 
needle,  the  shoemaker  at  his  last,  the  serving-boy  to  an 
exacting  mistress,  and  all  those  apprenticed  to  the  various 
trades,  have  no  time  for  improvement ;  but  afloat  there  are 
moments  of  quiet  and  of  peace — the  still  night  for  reflection, 
the  watch  for  meditation  ;  and  even  the  adverse  wind  or 
tide  leaves  moments  of  leisure,  which  may  be  employed  to 
advantagCc  Then  wilt  thou  call  to  mind  the  stores  of 
learning  which  I  have  laid  up  in  thy  garner,  and  wilt  add 
to  them  by  perseverance  and  industry.  Thou  hast  yet  six 
months  to  profit  by,  and,  with  the  blessing  of  God,  those 
six  months  shall  not  be  thrown  away." 

Mr  Drummond  having  received  my  consent  to  be  bound 
apprentice,  wished  me  farewell,  and  departed  During 
the  six  months,  the  Domine  pressed  me  hard,  almost  too 
hard,  but  I  worked  for  love,  and  to  please  him  I  was  most 
diligent.  At  last  the  time  had  flown  away,  the  six  months 
had  more  than  expired,  and  Mr  Drummond  made  his 
appearance,  with  a  servant,  carrying  a  bundle  under  his 
arm.  I  slipped  off  my  pepper-and-salt,  my  yellows  and 
my  badge,  dressed  myself  in  a  neat  bluejacket  and  trousers. 


Jacob  Faithful  47 

and,  with  many  exhortations  from  the  Domine,  and  kind 
wishes  from  the  matron,  I  bade  farewell  to  them  and  to 
the  charity-school,  and  in  an  hour  was  once  more  under 
the  roof  of  the  kind  Mrs  Drummond. 

But  how  different  were  my  sensations  to  those  which 
oppressed  me  when  I  had  before  entered !  I  was  no 
longer  a  little  savage,  uneducated  and  confused  in  my 
ideas.  On  the  contrary,  I  was  full  of  imagination,  con- 
fident in  myself,  and  in  my  own  powers,  cultivated  in 
mind,  and  proud  of  my  success.  The  finer  feelings  of 
my  nature  had  been  called  into  play.  I  felt  gratitude, 
humility,  and  love,  at  the  same  time  that  I  was  aware 
of  my  own  capabilities.  In  person  I  had  much  improved, 
as  well  as  much  increased  in  stature.  I  walked  confident 
and  elastic,  joying  in  the  world,  hoping,  anticipating  and 
kindly  disposed  towards  my  fellow-creatures.  I  knew, 
I  felt  my  improvement,  my  total  change  of  character,  and 
it  was  with  sparkling  eyes  that  I  looked  up  at  the  window, 
where  I  saw  Mrs  Drummond  and  little  Sarah  watching  my 
return  and  re-appearance,  after  an  absence  of  three  years. 

Mrs  Drummond  had  been  prepared  by  her  husband  to 
find  a  great  change ;  but  still,  she  looked  for  a  second  or 
two  with  wonder  as  I  entered  the  room,  with  my  hat  in 
my  hand,  and  paid  my  obeisance.  She  extended  her  hand 
to  me,  which  I  took  respectfully. 

"I  should  not  have  known  you,  Jacob;  you  have  grown 
quite  a  man,"  said  she,  smiling.  Sarah  held  back,  looking 
at  me  with  pleased  astonishment ;  but  I  went  up  to  her, 
and  she  timidly  accepted  my  hand.  I  had  left  her  as  my 
superior — I  returned,  and  she  soon  perceived  that  I  had  a 
legitimate  right  to  the  command.  It  was  some  time  before 
she  would  converse,  and  much  longer  before  she  would 
become  intimate  •,  but  when  she  did  so,  it  was  no  longer 
the  little  girl  encouraging  the  untutored  boy  by  kindness, 
or  laughing  at  his  absurdities,  but  looking  up  to  him  with 
respect  and  affection,  and  taking  his  opinion  as  a  guide  for 
her  own.     I  had  gained  the  power  of  knowledge. 

By  the  regulations  of  the  "Watermen's  Company,  it  is 


48  Jacob  Faithful 

necessary  that  every  one  who  wishes  to  ply  on  the  river  on 
his  own  account,  should  serve  as  an  apprentice,  from  the 
age  of  fourteen  to  twenty-one ;  at  all  events,  he  must 
serve  an  apprenticeship  for  seven  years,  and  be  fourteen 
years  old  before  he  signs  the  articles.  This  apprenticeship 
may  be  served  in  any  description  of  vessel  which  sails  or 
works  on  the  river,  whether  it  be  barge,  lighter,  fishing- 
smack,  or  a  boat  of  larger  dimensions ;  and  it  is  not  until 
that  apprenticeship  is  served,  that  he  can  work  on  his  own 
account,  either  in  a  wherry,  or  any  other  craft.  Mr 
Drummond  offered  to  article  me  on  board  of  one  of  his 
own  lighters  free  of  all  expense,  leaving  me  at  liberty  to 
change  into  any  other  vessel  that  I  might  think  proper.  I 
gratefully  accepted  the  proposal,  went  with  him  to  Water- 
men's Hall,  signed  the  papers,  and  thus  was,  at  the  age  of 
fourteen,  "  Bound  ^prentice  to  a  waterman^ 


Chapter   VI 

I  am  recommended  to  learn  to  swim,  and  I  take  the  friendly  advice — Heavy 
Suspicion  on  board  of  the  Lighter,  and  a  Mystery,  out  of  which  Mrs 
Radcliffe  would  have  made  a  romance. 

"  Jacob,  this  is  Marables,  who  has  charge  of  the  Polly 
barge,"  said  Mr  Drummond,  who  had  sent  for  me  into 
his  office,  a  few  days  after  my  arrival  at  his  house. 
"Marables,"  continued  my  protector,  addressing  the  man, 
"  I  have  told  you  that  this  lad  is  bound  'prentice  to  the 
Polly ;  I  expect  you  will  look  after  him,  and  treat  him 
kindly.  No  blows  or  ill  treatment.  If  he  does  not  con- 
duct himself  well  (but  well  I'm  sure  he  will),  let  me  know 
when  you  come  back  from  your  trip." 

During  this  speech,  I  was  scrutinising  the  outward  man 
of  my  future  controller.  He  was  stout  and  well-built, 
inclining  to  corpulence  \  his  features  remarkably  good, 
although  his  eyes  were  not  large.     His  mouth  was  very 


Jacob  Faithful  49 

small,  and  there  was  a  good-natured  smile  on  his  lips,  as 
he  answered,  "  I  never  treated  a  cat  ill,  master." 

**  I  believe  not,"  replied  Mr  Drummond ;  "  but  I  am 
anxious  that  Jacob  should  do  well  in  the  world,  and  there- 
fore let  you  know  that  he  will  always  have  my  protection, 
so  long  as  he  conducts  himself  properly." 

"  "We  shall  be  very  good  friends,  sir,  I'll  answer  for  it, 
if  I  may  judge  from  the  cut  of  his  jib,"  replied  Marables, 
extending  to  me  an  immense  hand,  as  broad  as  it  was  long. 

After  this  introduction,  Mr  Drummond  gave  him  some 
directions,  and  left  us  together. 

"  Come  and  see  the  craft,  boy,"  said  Marables ;  and  I 
followed  him  to  the  barge,  which  was  one  of  those  fitted 
with  a  mast  which  lowered  down  and  hauled  up  again,  as 
required.  She  plied  up  and  down  the  river  as  far  as  the 
Nore,  sometimes  extending  her  voyage  still  farther  ;  but 
that  was  only  in  the  summer  months.  She  had  a  large 
cabin  abaft  and  a  cuddy  forward.  The  cabin  was  locked, 
and  I  could  not  examine  it. 

"  This  will  be  your  berth,"  said  Marables,  pointing  to 
the  cuddy-hatch  forward ;  *'  you  will  have  it  all  to  your- 
self.    The  other  man  and  I  sleep  abaft." 

**  Have  you  another  man,  then  ?  " 

"  Yes,  I  have,  Jacob,"  replied  he ;  and  then  muttering 
to  himself,  "  I  wish  I  had  not — I  wish  the  barge  was  only 
between  us,  Jacob,  or  that  you  had  not  been  sent  on  board," 
continued  he  gravely.  *'  It  would  have  been  better — 
much  better."  And  he  walked  aft,  whistling  in  a  low 
tone,  looking  down  sadly  on  the  deck. 

"  Is  your  cabin  large  ? "  inquired  I,  as  he  came  forward. 

"  Yes,  large  enough  j  but  I  cannot  show  it  to  you  now 
— he  has  the  key." 

*'  What,  the  other  man  under  you  ? " 

**  Yes,"  replied  Marables,  hastily.  "  I've  been  thinking, 
Jacob,  that  you  may  as  well  remain  on  shore  till  we  start. 
You  can  be  of  no  use  here." 

To  this  I  had  no  objection ;  but  I  often  went  on  board 
during  the  fortnight  that  the  barge  remained,  and  soon 
J.F.  D 


50  Jacob  Faithful 

became  very  partial  to  Marables.  There  was  a  kindness 
about  him  that  won  me,  and  I  was  distressed  to  perceive 
that  he  was  often  very  melancholy.  What  surprised  me 
most  was  to  find  that  during  the  first  week  the  cabin 
was  constantly  locked,  and  that  Marables  had  not  the 
key ;  it  appeared  so  strange  that  he,  as  master  of  the 
barge,  should  be  locked  out  of  his  own  cabin  by  his 
inferior. 

One  day  I  went  early  on  board,  and  found  not  only  the 
cabin  doors  open,  but  the  other  man  belonging  to  her 
walking  up  and  down  the  deck  with  Marables.  He  was 
a  well-looking,  tall,  active  young  man,  apparently  not 
thirty,  with  a  general  boldness  of  countenance  strongly 
contrasted  with  a  furtive  glance  of  the  eye.  He  had  a 
sort  of  blue  smock-frock  over  all,  and  the  trousers  which 
appeared  below  were  of  a  finer  texture  than  those  usually 
worn  by  people  of  his  condition. 

"  This  is  the  lad  who  is  bound  to  the  barge,"  said 
Marables.     "  Jacob,  this  is  Fleming." 

"  So,  younker,"  said  Fleming,  after  casting  an  inquiring 
eye  upon  me,  "you  are  to  sail  with  us,  are  you?  It's 
my  opinion  that  your  room  would  be  better  than  your 
company.  However,  if  you  keep  your  eyes  open,  I'd 
advise  you  to  keep  your  mouth  shut.  When  I  don't  like 
people's  company,  I  sometimes  give  them  a  hoist  into  the 
stream — so  keep  a  sharp  look  out,  my  joker." 

Not  very  well  pleased  with  this  address,  I  answered, 
*'  I  thought  Marables  had  charge  of  the  craft,  and  that 
I  was  to  look  to  him  for  orders." 

"Did  you,  indeed!"  replied  Fleming,  with  a  sneer. 
"  I  say,  my  lad,  can  you  swim  ?" 

"  No,  I  can't,"  replied  I—"  I  wish  I  could." 

"  Well,  then,  take  my  advice — learn  to  swim  as  fast 
as  you  can  •,  for  I  have  a  strong  notion  that  one  day  or 
other,  I  shall  take  you  by  the  scruff  of  the  neck,  and 
send  you  to  look  after  your  father." 

"  Fleming  !  Fleming  !  pray  be  quiet !  "  said  Marables, 
who  had  several  times  pulled  him  by  the  sleeve.     "  He's 


Jacob  Faithful  51 

only  joking,  Jacob,"  continued  Marables  to  me,  as,  in- 
dignant at  the  mention  of  my  father's  death,  I  was  walking 
away  to  the  shore,  over  the  other  lighters. 

"  Well,"  replied  I,  turning  round,  "  if  I  am  to  be  tossed 
overboard,  it's  just  as  well  to  let  Mr  Drummond  know, 
that  if  I'm  missing  he  may  guess  what's  become  of  me." 

"  Pooh  !  nonsense  !  "  said  Fleming,  immediately  altering 
his  manner  and  coming  to  me  where  I  stood,  in  the  barge 
next  to  them.  "  Give  us  your  hand,  my  boy ;  I  was  only 
trying  what  stuff  you  were  made  of.  Come,  shake  hands ; 
I  wasn't  in  earnest." 

I  took  the  proffered  hand,  and  went  on  shore.  "  Never- 
theless," thought  I,  *'  I'll  learn  to  swim ;  for  I  rather  think 
he  was  in  earnest."  And  I  took  my  first  lesson  that  day ; 
and,  by  dint  of  practice,  soon  acquired  that  very  necessary 
art.  Had  it  not  been  for  the  threat  of  Fleming,  I  probably 
should  not  have  thought  of  it ;  but  it  occurred  to  me  that 
I  might  tumble,  even  if  I  were  not  thrown  overboard,  and 
that  a  knowledge  of  swimming  would  do  no  harm. 

The  day  before  the  barge  was  to  proceed  down  the 
river  to  Sheerness,  with  a  cargo  of  bricks,  I  called  upon 
my  worthy  old  master,  Domine  Dobiensis. 

*^  Salve  puer !  ^^  cried  the  old  man,  who  was  sitting  in 
his  study.  "  Verily,  Jacob,  thou  art  come  in  good  time. 
I  am  at  leisure,  and  will  give  thee  a  lesson.  Sit  down, 
my  child." 

The  Domine  opened  the  JE^noidi  of  Virgil,  and  com- 
menced forthwith.  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  please 
him  with  my  off-hand  translation ;  and,  as  he  closed  the 
book,  I  told  him  that  I  had  called  to  bid  him  farewell, 
as  we  started  at  daylight  the  next  morning. 

"  Jacob,"  said  he,  "  thou  hast  profited  well  by  the 
lessons  which  I  have  bestowed  upon  thee  :  now  take  heed 
of  that  advice  which  I  am  now  about  to  offer  to  thee. 
There  are  many  who  will  tell  thee  that  thy  knowledge 
is  of  no  use,  for  what  avail  can  the  Latin  tongue  be  to 
a  boy  on  board  of  a  lighter  ?  Others  may  think  that  I 
have  done  wrong  thus  to  instruct  thee,  as  thy  knowledge 


52  Jacob  Faithful 

may  render  thee  vain — nil  exacthis  erud'itinsque  est — or 
discontented  with  thy  situation  in  life.  Such  is  too  often 
the  case  I  grant ;  but  it  is  because  education  is  not  as 
general  as  it  ought  to  be.  Were  all  educated,  the 
superiority  acquired  or  presumed  upon  by  education 
would  be  lost,  and  the  nation  would  not  only  be  wiser, 
but  happier.  It  would  judge  more  rightly,  would  not 
condemn  the  measures  of  its  rulers,  which  at  present  it 
cannot  understand,  and  would  not  be  led  away  by  the 
clamour  and  misrepresentation  of  the  disaffected.  But  I 
must  not  digress,  as  time  is  short.  Jacob,  I  feel  that 
thou  wilt  not  be  spoilt  by  the  knowledge  instilled  into 
thee ;  but  mark  me,  parade  it  not,  for  it  will  be  vanity, 
and  make  thee  enemies.  Cultivate  thyself  as  much  as 
thou  canst,  but  in  due  season — thy  duties  to  thy  employer 
must  be  first  attended  to — but  treasure  up  what  thou 
hast,  and  lay  up  more  when  thou  canst.  Consider  it  as 
hidden  wealth,  which  may  hereafter  be  advantageously 
employed.  Thou  art  now  but  an  apprentice  in  a  barge ; 
but  what  mayest  thou  not  be,  Jacob,  if  thou  art  diligent — 
if  thou  fear  God,  and  be  honest  ?  I  will  now  call  to  my 
mind  some  examples  to  stimulate  thee  in  thy  career." 

Here  the  Domine  brought  forward  about  forty  or  fifty 
instances  from  history,  in  which  people  from  nothing  had 
risen  to  the  highest  rank  and  consideration ;  but,  although 
I  listened  to  them  very  attentively,  the  reader  will  pro- 
bably not  regret  the  omission  of  the  Domine's  catalogue. 
Having  concluded,  the  Domine  gave  me  a  Latin  Testa- 
ment, the  Whole  Duty  of  Man,  and  his  blessing.  The 
matron  added  to  them  a  large  slice  of  seed-cake  ;  and  by 
the  time  that  I  had  returned  to  Mr  Drummond's,  both  the 
Domine's  precepts  and  the  matron's  considerate  addition 
had  been  well  digested. 

It  was  at  six  o'clock  the  next  morning  that  we  cast  off 
our  fastenings  and  pulled  into  the  stream.  The  day  was 
lovely,  the  sun  had  risen  above  the  trees,  which  feathered 
their  boughs  down  on  the  sloping  lawns  in  front  of  the 
many  beautiful  retreats  of  the  nobility  and  gentry  which 


Jacob  Faithful  ^^ 

border  the  river  ;  and  the  lamp  of  day  poured  a  flood  of 
light  upon  the  smooth  and  rapidly  ebbing  river.  The 
heavy  dew  which  had  fallen  during  the  night  studded  the 
sides  of  the  barge,  and  ghttered  like  necklaces  of  diamonds  j 
the  mist  and  the  fog  had  ascended,  except  here  and  there, 
where  it  partially  concealed  the  landscape  ;  boats  laden 
with  the  produce  of  the  market-gardens  in  the  vicinity 
were  hastening  down  with  the  tide  to  supply  the  metro- 
polis ;  the  watermen  were  in  their  wherries,  cleaning  and 
mopping  them  out,  ready  for  their  fares ;  the  smoke  of 
the  chimneys  ascended  in  a  straight  line  to  heaven ;  and 
the  distant  chirping  of  the  birds  in  the  trees  added  to  the 
hilarity  and  lightness  of  heart  with  which  I  now  com- 
menced my  career  as  an  apprentice. 

I  was  forward,  looking  down  the  river,  when  Marables 
called  me  to  take  the  helm,  while  they  went  to  breakfast. 
He  commenced  giving  me  instructions  ;  but  I  cut  them 
short  by  proving  to  him  that  I  knew  the  river  as  well  as 
he  did.  Pleased  at  the  information,  he  joined  Fleming, 
who  was  preparing  the  breakfast  in  the  cabin,  and  I  was 
left  on  the  deck  by  myself.  There,  as  we  glided  by  every 
object  which  for  years  I  had  not  seen,  but  which  was 
immediately  recognised,  and  welcomed  as  an  old  friend, 
with  what  rapidity  did  former  scenes  connected  with  them 
flash  into  my  memory  !  There  was  the  inn  at  the  water- 
side, where  my  father  used  to  replenish  the  stone  bottle ; 
it  was  just  where  the  barge  now  was,  that  I  had  hooked 
and  pulled  up  the  largest  chub  I  had  ever  caught.  Now 
I  arrived  at  the  spot  where  we  had  run  foul  of  another 
craft  ;  and  my  father,  with  his  pipe  in  his  mouth  and  his 
**  Take  it  coolly,"  which  so  exasperated  the  other  parties, 
stood  as  alive  before  me.  Here — yes,  it  was  here — exactly 
here — where  we  anchored  on  that  fatal  night,  when  I  was 
left  an  orphan — it  was  here  that  my  father  disappeared  ; 
and,  as  I  looked  down  at  the  water,  I  almost  thought  I 
could  perceive  it  again  close  over  him,  as  it  eddied  by ; 

and   it  was    here    that    the   black   smoke The  whole 

scene  came   fresh   to   my  memory,   my   eyes   filled  with 


54  Jacob  Faithful 

tears,  and,  for  a  little  while,  I  could  not  see  to  steer. 
But  I  soon  recovered  myself  j  the  freshness  of  the  air, 
the  bright  sky  overhead,  the  busy  scene  before  me,  and 
the  necessity  of  attending  to  my  duty,  chased  away  my 
painful  remembrances  j  and  when  I  had  passed  the  spot, 
I  was  again  cheerful  and  content. 

In  half  an  hour  I  had  shot  Putney  bridge,  and  was 
sweeping  clear  of  the  shallows  on  the  reach  below,  when 
Marables  and  Fleming  came  up.  "  How  !  "  exclaimed 
Marables  ;  "  have  we  passed  the  bridge  ?  Why  did  you 
not  call  us  ?  " 

"  I  have  shot  it  without  help  many  and  many  a  time," 
replied  I,  "  when  I  was  but  ten  years  old.  Why  should 
I  call  you  from  your  breakfast  ?  But  the  tides  are  high 
now,  and  the  stream  rapid ;  you  had  better  get  a  sweep 
out  on  the  bow,  or  we  may  tail  on  the  bank." 

"  Well  !  "  replied  Fleming,  with  astonishment ;  **  I 
had  no  idea  that  he  would  have  been  any  help  to  us  ;  but 
so  much  the  better."  He  then  spoke  in  a  low  tone  to 
Marables. 

Marables  shook  his  head.  **  Don't  try  it,  Fleming,  it 
will  never  do." 

"  So  you  said  once  about  yourself,"  replied  Fleming, 
with  a  laugh. 

"  I  did — I  did  !  "  replied  Marables,  clenching  both  his 
hands,  which  at  the  time  were  crossed  on  his  breast,  with 
a  look  of  painful  emotion  ;  "  but  I  say  again,  don't  try  it  j 
nay,  I  say  more,  you  shall  not." 

*'  Shall  not  ?  "  replied  Fleming,  haughtily. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Marables,  coolly  ;  *'  I  say  shall  not,  and 
I'll  stand  by  my  words.  Now,  Jacob,  give  me  the  helm, 
and  get  your  breakfast." 

I  gave  up  the  helm  to  Marables,  and  was  about  to  enter 
the  cabin,  when  Fleming  caught  me  by  the  arm,  and  slewed 
me  round.  "I  say,  my  joker,  we  may  just  as  well  begin 
as  we  leave  off.  Understand  me,  that  into  that  cabin  you 
never  enter  ;  and  understand  further,  that  if  ever  I  find 
you  in  that  cabin  by  day  or  night,  I'll  break  every  bone  in 


Jacob  Faithful  ^^ 

your  body.  Your  berth  is  forward ;  and  as  for  your 
meals,  you  may  either  take  them  down  there,  or  you  may 
eat  them  on  deck." 

From  what  I  had  already  witnessed,  I  knew  that,  for 
some  reason  or  another,  Fleming  had  the  control  over 
Marables  j  nevertheless  I  replied,  "  If  Mr  Marables  says  it 
is  to  be  so,  well  and  good ;  but  he  has  charge  of  this 
barge."  Marables  made  no  reply  ;  he  coloured  up,  seemed 
very  much  annoyed,  and  then  looked  up  at  the  sky. 

"  You'll  find,"  continued  Fleming,  addressing  me  in  a 
low  voice,  "  that  I  command  here — so  be  wise.  Perhaps 
the  day  may  come  when  you  may  walk  in  and  out  of  the 
cabin  as  you  please,  but  that  depends  upon  yourself.  By- 
and-bye,  when  we  know  more  of  each  other " 

"  Never,  Fleming,  never !  "  interrupted  Marables,  in  a 
firm  and  loud  tone.     "  It  sha/I  not  be." 

Fleming  muttered  what  I  could  not  hear,  and,  going  into 
the  cabin,  brought  me  out  my  breakfast,  which  I  de- 
spatched with  good  appetite ;  and  soon  afterwards  I 
offered  to  take  the  helm  j  which  offer  was  accepted  by 
Marables,  who  retired  to  the  cabin  with  Fleming,  where  I 
heard  them  converse  for  a  long  while  in  a  low  tone. 

The  tide  was  about  three  quarters  ebb,  when  the  barge 
arrived  abreast  of  Millbank.  Marables  came  on  deck,  and 
taking  the  helm,  desired  me  to  go  forward  and  see  the 
anchor  clear  for  letting  go. 

**  Anchor  clear  !  "  said  I.  **  "Why,  we  have  a  good 
hour  more  before  we  meet  the  flood." 

"I  know  that,  Jacob,  as  well  as  you  do;  but  we  shall 
not  go  farther  to-night.     Be  smart,  and  see  all  clear." 

I  went  forward,  and  when  the  anchor  and  cable  were 
ready,  we  let  it  go,  and  swung  to  the  stream.  I  thought, 
at  the  time,  that  this  was  not  making  the  best  of  our  way, 
as  in  duty  bound  to  our  master ;  but  as  I  was  not  aware 
what  Marables'  orders  might  be,  I  held  my  tongue. 
Whether  Fleming  thought  that  it  was  necessary  to  blind  me, 
or  whether  it  was  true  that  they  were  only  obeying  their 
orders,  he  said  to  Marables  in  my  hearing,  "  Will  you  go 


^6  Jacob  Faithful 

on  shore  and  give  the  letters  to  Mr  Drummond's  corre- 
spondent, or  shall  I  go  for  you  ? 

"  You  had  better  go,"  replied  Marables,  carelessly ; 
and  shortly  after  they  went  to  dinner  in  the  cabin,  Fleming 
bringing  me  mine  out  on  deck. 

The  flood  tide  now  made,  and  we  rode  to  the  stream. 
Having  nothing  to  do,  and  Marables  as  well  as  Fleming 
appearing  to  avoid  me,  I  brought  the  Domine's  Latin 
Testament,  and  amused  myself  with  reading  it.  About  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  before  dusk,  Fleming  made  his  ap- 
pearance to  go  on  shore.  He  was  genteelly,  I  may  say 
fashionably,  dressed  in  a  suit  of  black,  with  a  white  neck- 
cloth. At  first  I  did  not  recognise  him,  so  surprised  was 
I  at  his  alteration  ;  and  my  thoughts,  as  soon  as  my  sur- 
prise was  over,  naturally  turned  upon  the  singularity  of  a 
man  who  worked  in  a  barge  under  another,  now  assuming 
the  dress  and  appearance  of  a  gentleman.  Marables  hauled 
up  the  little  skiff  which  lay  astern.  Fleming  jumped  in 
and  shoved  off.  I  watched  him  till  I  perceived  him  land 
at  the  stairs,  and  then  turned  round  to  Marables  :  *'  I  can't 
understand  all  this,"  observed  I. 

'*  I  don't  suppose  you  can,"  replied  Marables  :  "  but 
still  I  could  explain  it,  if  you  will  promise  me  faithfully 
not  to  say  a  word  about  it." 

"I  will  make  that  promise,  if  you  satisfy  me  that  all  is 
right,"  answered  I. 

"  As  to  all  being  right,  Jacob,  that's  as  may  be  j  but  if 
I  prove  to  you  that  there  is  no  harm  done  to  our  master, 
I  suppose  you  will  keep  the  secret.  However,  I  must  not 
allow  you  to  think  worse  of  it  than  it  really  is  ;  no,  I'll 
trust  to  your  good-nature.  You  wouldn't  harm  me, 
Jacob  ? "  Marables  then  told  me  that  Fleming  had  once 
been  well  to  do  in  the  world,  and  during  the  long  illness 
and  subsequent  death  of  Marables'  wife,  had  lent  him 
money  ;  that  Fleming  had  been  very  imprudent,  and  had 
run  up  a  great  many  debts,  and  that  the  bailiffs  were  after 
him.  On  this  emergency  he  had  applied  to  Marables  to 
help  him,  and  that,  in  consequence,  he  had  received  him 


Jacob  Faithful  ^y 

on  board  of  the  barge,  where  they  never  would  think  of 
looking  for  him  ;  that  Fleming  had  friends,  and  contrived 
to  go  on  shore  at  night  to  see  them,  and  get  what  assist- 
ance he  could  from  them  in  money  :  in  the  meantime,  his 
relations  were  trying  what  they  could  do  to  arrange  with 
his  creditors.  **  Now,"  said  Marables,  after  this  narration, 
*'  how  could  I  help  assisting  one  who  has  been  so  kind  to 
me  ?  And  what  harm  does  it  do  Mr  Drummond  ?  If 
Fleming  can't  do  his  work,  or  won't,  when  we  unload,  he 
pays  another  man  himself ;  so  Mr  Drummond  is  not  hurt 
by  it." 

"  That  may  be  all  true,"  replied  I ;  **  but  I  cannot  imagine 
why  I  am  not  to  enter  the  cabin,  and  why  he  orders  about 
here  as  master." 

"  Why,  you  see,  Jacob,  I  owe  him  money,  and  he  allows 
me  so  much  per  week  for  the  cabin,  by  which  means  I  shall 
pay  it  off.     IDo  you  understand  now  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  understand  what  you  have  said,"  replied  I. 

"Well,  then,  Jacob,  I  hope  you'll  say  nothing  about  it. 
It  would  only  harm  me,  and  do  no  good." 

*'  That  depends  upon  Fleming's  behaviour  towards  me," 
replied  I.  "  I  will  not  be  bullied  and  made  uncomfortable 
by  him,  depend  upon  it ;  he  has  no  business  on  board  the 
barge,  that's  clear,  and  I  am  bound  'prentice  to  her.  I 
don't  wish  to  hurt  you  ;  and  as  I  suppose  Fleming  won't 
be  long  on  board  I  shall  say  nothing,  unless  he  treats  me 
ill." 

Marables  then  left  me,  and  I  reflected  upon  what  he  had 
said.  It  appeared  all  very  probable ;  but  still  I  was  not 
satisfied.  I  resolved  to  watch  narrowly,  and  if  anything 
occurred  which  excited  more  suspicions,  to  inform  Mr 
Drummond  upon  our  return.  Shortly  afterwards  Marables 
came  out  again,  and  told  me  I  might  go  to  bed,  and  he 
would  keep  the  deck  till  Fleming's  return.  I  assented, 
and  went  down  to  the  cuddy  ;  but  I  did  not  much  like  this 
permission.  It  appeared  to  me  as  if  he  wanted  to  get  rid 
of  me,  and  I  lay  awake  turning  over  in  my  mind  all  that 
I  had  heard  and  seen.     About  two  o'clock  in  the  morning 


58  Jacob  Faithful 

I  heard  the  sound  of  oars,  and  the  skiff  strike  the  side  of 
the  barge.  I  did  not  go  up,  but  I  put  my  head  up  the 
scuttle  to  see  what  was  going  on.  It  was  broad  moon- 
light, and  almost  as  clear  as  day.  Fleming  threw  up  the 
painter  of  the  skiif  to  Marables,  and,  as  he  held  it,  lifted 
out  of  the  boat  a  blue  bag,  apparently  well  filled.  The 
contents  jingled  as  it  was  landed  on  the  deck.  He  then 
put  out  a  yellow  silk  handkerchief  full  of  something  else, 
and  having  gained  the  deck,  Marables  walked  aft  with  the 
painter  in  his  hand  until  the  skiff  had  dropped  astern, 
where  he  made  it  fast,  and  returned  to  Fleming,  who  stood 
close  to  the  blue  bag.  I  heard  Fleming  ask  Marables,  in 
a  low  voice,  if  I  were  in  bed,  and  an  answer  given  in  the 
affirmative.  I  dropped  my  head  immediately  that  I  might 
not  be  discovered,  and  turned  into  my  bed-place.  I  was 
restless  for  a  long  while ;  thought  upon  thought,  surmise 
upon  surmise,  conjecture  upon  conjecture,  and  doubt  upon 
doubt,  occupied  my  brain,  until  at  last  I  went  fast  asleep — 
so  fast,  that  I  did  not  wake  until  summoned  by  Fleming. 
I  rose,  and  when  I  came  on  deck,  found  that  the  anchor 
had  been  weighed  more  than  two  hours,  and  that  we  were 
past  all  the  bridges.  "  Why,  Jacob,  my  man,  you've  had 
a  famous  nap,"  said  Fleming,  with  apparent  good  humour  ; 
"  now  go  aft,  and  get  your  breakfast,  it  has  been  waiting 
for  you  this  half-hour."  By  the  manner  of  Fleming,  I 
took  it  for  granted  that  Marables  had  acquainted  him  with 
our  conversation,  and  indeed,  from  that  time,  during  our 
whole  trip,  Fleming  treated  me  with  kindness  and 
familiarity.  The  veto  had  not,  however,  been  taken  off 
the  cabin,  which  I  never  attempted  to  enter. 


Jacob  Faithful  59 


Chapter  VII 

The  Mystery  becomes  more  and  more  interesting,  and  I  determine  to  find 
it  out — Prying  after  things  locked  up,  I  am  locked  up  myself — Fleming 
proves  to  me  that  his  advice  wras  good  when  he  recommended  me  to  learn 
to  swim. 

On  our  arrival  off  the  Medway,  I  had  just  gone  down  to 
bed,  and  was  undressing,  when  I  heard  Fleming  come  on 
deck  and  haul  up  the  boat.  I  looked  up  the  hatchway  ; 
it  was  very  dark,  but  I  could  perceive  Marables  hand  him 
the  bag  and  handkerchief,  with  which  he  pulled  on  shore. 
He  did  not  return  until  the  next  morning  at  daylight,  when 
I  met  him  as  he  came  up  the  side.  "Well,  Jacob,"  said 
he,  "  you've  caught  me.  I've  been  on  shore  to  see  my 
sweetheart  j  but  you  boys  ought  to  know  nothing  about 
these  things.     Make  the  boat  fast,  there's  a  good  lad." 

When  we  were  one  night  discharging  our  cargo,  which 
was  for  government,  I  heard  voices  alongside.  From 
habit,  the  least  noise  now  awoke  me :  a  boat  striking  the 
side  was  certain  so  to  do.  It  was  then  about  twelve 
o'clock.  I  looked  up  the  hatchway,  perceived  two  men 
come  on  board  and  enter  the  cabin  with  packages.  They 
remained  there  about  ten  minutes,  and  then,  escorted  to 
the  side  by  Fleming,  left  the  barge.  When  the  barge  was 
cleared,  we  hauled  off  to  return,  and  in  three  days  were 
again  alongside  of  Mr  Drummond's  wharf.  The  kindness 
both  of  Marables  and  of  Fleming  had  been  very  great. 
They  lived  in  a  style  very  superior  to  what  they  could  be 
expected  to  do,  and  I  fared  well  in  consequence. 

On  our  arrival  at  the  wharf,  Marables  came  up  to  me, 
and  said,  **  Now,  Jacob,  as  I  have  honestly  told  you  the 
secret,  I  hope  you  won't  ruin  me  by  saying  a  word  to  Mr 
Drummond."  I  had  before  made  up  my  mind  to  say 
nothing  to  my  master  until  my  suspicions  were  confirmed, 
and  I  therefore  gave  my  promise ;  but  I  had  also  resolved 
to  impart  my  suspicions,  as  well  as  what  I  had  seen,  to  the 


6o  Jacob  Faithful 

old  Domine.  On  the  third  day  after  our  arrival  I  walked 
out  to  the  school,  and  acquainted  him  with  all  that  had 
passed,  and  asked  him  for  his  advice. 

**  Jacob,"  said  he,  "  thou  hast  done  well,  but  thou 
mightest  have  done  better ;  hadst  thou  not  given  thy 
promise,  which  is  sacred,  I  would  have  taken  thee  to 
Mr  Drummond,  that  thou  mightest  impart  the  whole, 
instanter.  I  like  it  not.  Evil  deeds  are  done  in  darkness. 
Noctem  peccatis  et  fraudihus  ohjice  nuhem.  Still,  as  thou 
sayest,  nought  is  yet  proved.  Watch,  therefore,  Jacob — 
watch  carefully  over  thy  master's  interests,  and  the  interests 
of  society  at  large.  It  is  thy  duty,  I  may  say,  Vigilare 
noctesque  diesque.  It  may  be  as  Marables  hath  said — and  all 
may  be  accounted  for ;  still,  I  say,  be  careful,  and  be 
honest." 

I  followed  the  suggestions  of  the  Domine :  we  were 
soon  laden  with  another  cargo  of  bricks,  to  be  delivered 
at  the  same  place,  and  proceeded  on  our  voyage.  Marables 
and  Fleming,  finding  that  I  had  not  said  a  word  to  Mr 
Drummond,  treated  me  with  every  kindness.  Fleming 
once  offered  me  money,  which  I  refused,  saying  that  I  had 
no  use  for  it.  I  was  on  the  best  terms  with  them,  at  the 
same  time  that  I  took  notice  of  all  that  passed,  without 
offering  a  remark  to  excite  their  suspicions.  But  not  to 
be  too  prolix,  it  will  suffice  to  say,  that  we  made  many 
trips  during  several  months,  and  that  during  that  time  I 
made  the  following  observations  : — that  Fleming  went  on 
shore  at  night  at  certain  places,  taking  with  him  bags  and 
bundles  ;  that  he  generally  returned  with  others,  which 
were  taken  into  the  cabin  ;  that  sometimes  people  came 
off  at  night,  and  remained  some  time  in  the  cabin  with 
him ;  and  that  all  this  took  place  when  it  was  supposed 
that  I  was  asleep.  The  cabin  was  invariably  locked  when 
the  barge  was  lying  at  the  wharfs.  If  Fleming  was  on 
shore,  and  at  no  time  was  I  permitted  to  enter  It.  Marables 
was  a  complete  cipher  in  Fleming's  hands,  who  ordered 
everything  as  he  pleased ;  and,  in  the  conversations  which 
took  place  before  me,  with  much  less  restraint  than  at  first, 


Jacob  Faithful  6i 

there  appeared  to  be  no  idea  of  Fleming's  leaving  us.  As 
I  felt  convinced  that  there  was  no  chance  of  discovery 
without  further  efforts  on  my  part,  and  my  suspicions 
increasing  daily,  I  resolved  upon  running  some  hazard. 
My  chief  wish  was  to  get  into  the  cabin  and  examine  its 
contents  ;  but  this  was  not  easy,  and  would,  in  all  proba- 
bility, be  a  dangerous  attempt.  One  night  I  came  on  deck 
in  my  shirt.  We  were  at  anchor  off  Rotherhithe  :  it  was 
a  dark  night,  with  a  drizzling  rain.  I  was  hastening  below, 
when  I  perceived  a  light  still  burning  in  the  cabin,  and 
heard  the  voices  of  Marables  and  Fleming.  I  thought  this 
a  good  opportunity,  and,  having  no  shoes,  walked  softly 
on  the  wet  deck  to  the  cabin-door,  which  opened  forward, 
and  peeped  through  the  crevices.  Marables  and  Fleming 
were  sitting  opposite  each  other,  at  the  little  table.  There 
were  some  papers  before  them,  and  they  were  dividing 
some  money.  Marables  expostulated  at  his  share  not 
being  sufficient,  and  Fleming  laughed  and  told  him  he  had 
earned  no  more.  Fearful  of  being  discovered,  I  made  a 
silent  retreat,  and  gained  my  bed.  It  was  well  that  I  had 
made  the  resolution ;  for  just  as  I  was  putting  my  head 
below  the  hatch,  and  drawing  it  over  the  scuttle,  the  door 
was  thrown  open,  and  Fleming  came  out.  I  pondered  over 
this  circumstance,  and  the  remark  of  Fleming,  that  Marables 
had  not  earned  any  more,  and  I  felt  convinced  that  the 
story  told  me  by  Marables  relative  to  Fleming  was  all  false. 
This  conviction  stimulated  me  more  than  ever  to  discover 
the  secret,  and  many  and  many  a  night  did  I  watch,  with  a 
hope  of  being  able  to  examine  the  cabin ;  but  it  was  to  no 
purpose,  either  Fleming  or  Marables  was  always  on  board. 
I  continued  to  report  to  the  Domine  all  I  had  discovered, 
and  he  agreed  at  last,  that  it  was  better  that  I  should  not 
say  anything  to  Mr  Drummond  until  there  was  the  fullest 
proof  of  the  nature  of  their  proceedings. 

The  cabin  was  now  the  sole  object  of  my  thoughts,  and 
many  were  the  schemes  resolved  in  my  mind  to  obtain  an 
entrance.  Fatima  never  coveted  admission  to  the  dreadful 
chamber  of  Bluebeard,  as  I  did  to  ascertain  the  secrets  of 


62  Jacob  Faithful 

this  hidden  receptacle.  One  night  Fleming  had  quitted 
the  barge,  and  I  ascended  from  my  dormitory.  Marables 
was  on  deck,  sitting  upon  the  water-cask,  with  his  elbow 
resting  on  the  gunwale,  his  hand  supporting  his  head, 
as  if  in  deep  thought.  The  cabin-doors  were  closed,  but 
the  light  still  remained  in  it.  I  watched  for  some  time, 
and  perceiving  that  Marables  did  not  move,  walked  gently 
up  to  him.  He  was  fast  asleep ;  I  waited  for  some  little 
time  alongside  of  him.  At  last  he  snored.  It  was  an 
opportunity  not  to  be  lost.  I  crept  to  the  cabin-door  j 
it  was  not  locked.  Although  I  did  not  fear  the  wrath 
of  Marables,  in  case  of  discovery,  as  I  did  that  of  Fleming, 
it  was  still  with  a  beating  heart  and  a  tremulous  hand 
that  I  gently  opened  the  door,  pausing  before  I  entered, 
to  ascertain  if  Marables  were  disturbed.  He  moved  not, 
and  I  entered,  closing  the  door  after  me.  I  caught  up 
the  light,  and  held  it  in  my  hand  as  I  hung  over  the 
table.  On  each  side  were  the  two  bed-places  of  Marables 
and  Fleming,  which  I  had  before  then  had  many  a  partial 
glimpse  of.  In  front  of  the  bed-places  were  two  lockers, 
to  sit  down  upon.  I  tried  them — they  were  not  fast — 
they  contained  their  clothes.  At  the  after  part  of  the 
cabin  were  three  cupboards ;  I  opened  the  centre  one, 
it  contained  crockery,  glass,  and  knives  and  forks.  I 
tried  the  one  on  the  starboard  side ;  it  was  locked,  but 
the  key  was  in  it.  I  turned  it  gently,  but  being  a  good 
lock,  it  snapped  loud.  I  paused  in  fear — but  Marables 
still  slept.  The  cupboard  had  three  shelves,  and  every 
shelf  was  loaded  with  silver  spoons,  forks,  and  every 
variety  of  plate,  mixed  with  watches,  bracelets,  and 
ornaments  of  every  description.  There  was,  I  perceived, 
a  label  on  each,  with  a  peculiar  mark.  Wishing  to  have 
an  accurate  survey,  and  encouraged  by  my  discovery, 
I  turned  to  the  cupboard  opposite,  on  the  larboard  side, 
and  I  opened  it.  It  contained  silk  handkerchiefs  in  every 
variety,  lace  veils,  and  various  other  articles  of  value ; 
on  the  lower  shelf  were  laid  three  pairs  of  pistols.  I 
was  now  satisfied,  and  closing  the  last  cupboard,  which 


Jacob  Faithful  6^ 

had  not  been  locked,  was  about  to  retreat,  when  I 
recollected  that  I  had  not  re-locked  the  first  cupboard, 
and  that  they  might  not,  by  finding  it  open,  suspect  my 
visit,  I  turned  the  key.  It  made  a  louder  snap  than 
before.  I  heard  Marables  start  from  his  slumber  on 
deck  ;  in  a  moment  I  blew  out  the  lamp,  and  remained 
quiet.  Marables  got  up,  took  a  turn  or  two,  looked  at 
the  cabin  doors,  which  were  shut,  and  opened  them  a 
little.  Perceiving  that  the  lamp  had,  as  he  thought, 
gone  out,  he  shut  them  again,  and,  to  my  consternation, 
turned  the  key.  There  I  was,  locked  up,  until  the  arrival 
of  Fleming — then  to  be  left  to  his  mercy.  I  hardly  knew 
how  to  act :  at  last  I  resolved  upon  calling  to  Marables, 
as  I  dreaded  his  anger  less  than  Fleming's.  Then  it 
occurred  to  me  that  Marables  might  come  in,  feel  for 
the  lamp  to  re-light  it,  and  that,  as  he  came  in  on  one 
side  of  the  cabin,  I  might,  in  the  dark,  escape  by  the 
other.  This  all  but  forlorn  hope  prevented  me  for  some 
time  from  applying  to  him.  At  last  I  made  up  my  mind 
that  I  would,  and  ran  from  the  locker  to  call  through  the 
door,  when  I  heard  the  sound  of  oars.  I  paused  again — 
loitered — the  boat  was  alongside,  and  I  heard  Fleming 
jump  upon  the  deck. 

"  Quick,"  said  he  to  Marables,  as  he  came  to  the 
cabin-door,  and  tried  to  open  it ;  *'  we've  no  time  to 
lose — we  must  get  up  the  sacks,  and  sink  everything. 
Two  of  them  have  'peached,  and  the  fence  will  be 
discovered." 

He  took  the  key  from  Marables,  and  opened  the  door ; 
I  had  replaced  the  lamp  upon  the  table.  Fleming  entered, 
took  a  seat  on  the  locker  on  the  larboard  side,  and  felt 
for  the  lamp.  Marables  followed  him,  and  sat  down  on 
the  starboard  locker ; — escape  was  impossible.  With  a 
throbbing  heart  I  sat  in  silence,  watching  my  fate.  In 
the  meantime  Fleming  had  taken  out  of  his  pocket  his 
phosphorus  match  box.  I  heard  the  tin  top  pulled  open — 
even  the  shght  rustling  of  the  one  match  selected  was 
perceived.      Another  second  it  was  withdrawn  from  the 


64  Jacob  Faithful 

bottle,  and  a  wild  flame  of  light  illumined  the  deck  cabin, 
and  discovered  me  to  their  view.  Staggered  at  my 
appearance,  the  match  fell  from  Fleming's  hand,  and  all 
was  dark  as  before ;  but  there  was  no  more  to  be  gained 
by  darkness — I  had  been  discovered. 

"  Jacob  !  "  cried  Marables. 

"  Will  not  live  to  tell  the  tale,"  added  Fleming,  with  a 
firm  voice,  as  he  put  another  match  into  the  bottle,  and 
then  re-lighted  the  lamp.  "Come,"  said  Fleming  fiercely; 
*'  Out  of  the  cabin  immediately." 

I  prepared  to  obey  him.  Fleming  went  out,  and  I  was 
following  him  round  his  side  of  the  table,  when  Marables 
interposed. 

"  Stop  :  Fleming,  what  is  that  you  mean  to  do  ? " 

"  Silence  him  !  "  retorted  Fleming. 

"  But  not  murder  him,  surely  ? "  cried  Marables, 
trembling  from  head  to  foot.  *'  You  will  not,  dare  not, 
do  that." 

"What  is  it  that  I  dare  not  do,  Marables  ?  but  it  is  use- 
less to  talk ;  it  is  now  his  life  or  mine.  One  must  be 
sacrificed,  and  I  will  not  die  yet  to  please  him." 

"  You  shall  not — by  God,  Fleming,  you  shall  not ! " 
cried  Marables,  seizing  hold  of  my  other  arm,  and  holding 
me  tight. 

I  added  my  resistance  to  that  of  Marables ;  v/hen 
Fleming,  perceiving  that  we  should  be  masters,  took  a 
pistol  from  his  pocket,  and  struck  Marables  a  blow  on 
the  head,  which  rendered  him  senseless.  Throwing  away 
the  pistol,  he  dragged  me  out  of  the  cabin.  I  was  strong, 
but  he  was  very  powerful ;  my  resistance  availed  me 
nothing  :  by  degrees  he  forced  me  to  the  side  of  the 
barge,  and,  lifting  me  up  in  his  arms,  dashed  me  into  the 
dark  and  rapidly  flowing  water.  It  was  fortunate  for  me 
that  the  threat  of  Fleming,  upon  our  first  meeting,  had 
induced  me  to  practise  swimming,  and  still  more  fortunate 
that  I  was  not  encumbered  with  any  other  clothes  than  my 
shirt,  in  which  I  had  come  on  deck.  As  it  was,  I  was 
carried  away  by  the  tide  for  some  time  before  I  could  rise, 


Jacob  Faithful  65 

and  at  such  a  distance  that  Fleming,  who  probably 
watched,  did  not  perceive  that  I  came  up  again.  Still,  I 
had  but  little  hopes  of  saving  myself  in  a  dark  night,  and 
at  nearly  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  shore.  I  struggled  to 
keep  myself  afloat,  when  I  heard  the  sound  of  oars ;  a 
second  or  two  more,  and  I  saw  them  over  my  head.  I 
grasped  at  and  seized  the  last,  as  the  others  passed  me, 
crying  "Help  ! " 

"  What  the  devil !  Oars,  my  men ;  here's  somebody 
overboard,"  cried  the  man,  whose  oar  I  had  seized. 

They  stopped  pulling ;  he  dragged  in  his  oar  till  he 
could  lay  hold  of  me,  and  then  they  hauled  me  into  the 
boat.  I  was  exhausted  with  cold  and  my  energetic 
struggles  in  the  water ;  and  it  was  not  until  they  had 
wrapped  me  up  in  a  great  coat,  and  poured  some  spirits 
down  my  throat,  that  I  could  speak.  They  inquired  to 
which  of  the  craft  I  belonged. 

"  The  Polly  barge." 

*'  The  very  one  we  are  searching  for.  Where  about  is 
she,  my  lad  ? " 

I  directed  them :  the  boat  was  a  large  wherry,  pulling 
six  oars,  belonging  to  the  River  Police.  The  officer  in 
the  stern  sheets,  who  steered  her,  then  said,  "  How  came 
you  overboard?" 

"  I  was  thrown  overboard,"  replied  I,  "  by  a  man  called 
Fleming." 

"  The  name  he  goes  by,"  cried  the  officer.  *'  Give  way,  my 
lads.     There's  murder,  it  appears,  as  well  as  other  charges." 

In  a  quarter  of  an  hour  we  were  alongside — the  officer 
and  four  men  sprang  out  of  the  boat,  leaving  the  other 
two  with  directions  for  me  to  remain  in  the  boat.  Cold 
and  miserable  as  I  was,  I  was  too  much  interested  in  the 
scene  not  to  rise  up  from  the  stern  sheets,  and  pay  atten- 
tion to  what  passed.  When  the  officer  and  his  men 
gained  the  deck,  they  were  met  by  Fleming  in  the  advance, 
and  Marables  about  a  yard  or  two  behind. 

"What's  all  this?"  cried  Fleming,  boldly.  "Are  you 
river  pirates,  come  to  plunder  us  ? " 

J.F.  E 


66  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Not  exactly,"  replied  the  officer  ;  **  but  we  are  just 
come  to  overhaul  you.  Deliver  up  the  key  of  your  cabin," 
continued  he,  after  trying  the  door,  and  finding  it  locked. 

"  With  all  my  heart,  if  you  prove  yourselves  authorised 
to  search,"  replied  Fleming  ;  "  but  you'll  find  no  smuggled 
spirits  here,  I  can  tell  you.  Marables,  hand  them  the  key ; 
I  see  that  they  belong  to  the  river  guard." 

Marables,  who  had  never  spoken,  handed  the  key  to  the 
officer,  who,  opening  a  dark  lanthorn,  went  down  into  the 
cabin  and  proceeded  in  his  search,  leaving  two  of  the  men 
to  take  charge  of  Fleming  and  Marables.  But  his  search 
was  in  vain ;  he  could  find  nothing,  and  he  came  out  on 
the  deck. 

"Well,"  said  Fleming,  sarcastically,  "have  you  made  a 
seizure  ?  " 

"  Wait  a  little,"  said  the  officer;  "how  many  men  have 
you  in  this  barge  ? " 

"  You  see  them,"  replied  Fleming. 

"  Yes  J  but  you  have  a  boy  :  where  is  he  ? " 

"  We  have  no  boy,"  replied  Fleming  ;  "  two  men  are 
quite  enough  for  this  craft." 

"  Still  I  ask  you,  what  has  become  of  the  boy  ?  for  a 
boy  was  on  your  decks  this  afternoon." 

"  If  there  was  one,  I  presume  he  has  gone  on  shore 
again." 

"  Answer  me  another  question  :  which  of  you  threw  him 
overboard  ?  " 

At  this  query  of  the  officer,  Fleming  started,  while 
Marables  cried  out,  "  It  was  not  I ;  I  would  have  saved 
him.     O  that  the  boy  were  here  to  prove  it !  " 

"  I  am  here,  Marables,"  said  I,  coming  on  the  deck,  "  and 
I  am  witness  that  you  tried  to  save  me,  until  you  were 
struck  senseless  by  that  ruffian  Fleming,  who  threw  me 
overboard,  that  I  might  not  give  evidence  as  to  the  silver 
and  gold  which  I  found  in  the  cabin ;  and  which  I  over- 
heard him  tell  you  must  be  put  into  sacks  and  sunk,  as  two 
of  the  men  had  'peached." 

Fleming,  when  he  saw  me,  turned  round,  as  if  not  to 


Jacob  Faithful  ^^j 

look  at  me.  His  face  I  could  not  see  -,  but  after  remaining 
a  few  seconds  in  that  position,  he  held  out  his  hands  in 
silence  for  the  handcuffs,  which  the  officer  had  already 
taken  out  of  his  pocket.  Marables,  on  the  contrary,  sprang 
forward  as  soon  as  I  had  finished  speaking,  and  caught  me 
in  his  arms. 

"  My  fine,  honest  boy  !  I  thank  God — I  thank  God  ! 
All  that  he  has  said  is  true,  sir.  You  will  find  the  goods 
sunk  astern,  and  the  buoy-rope  to  them  fastened  to  the 
lower  pintle  of  the  rudder.  Jacob,  thank  God,  you  are 
safe  !  I  little  thought  to  see  you  again.  There,  sir,"  con- 
tinued he  to  the  officer,  holding  out  his  hands,  "  I  deserve 
it  all.     I  had  not  strength  of  mind  enough  to  be  honest." 

The  handcuffs  were  put  on  Marables  as  well  as  on 
Fleming,  and  the  officer,  allowing  me  time  to  go  down  and 
put  on  my  clothes,  hauled  up  the  sacks  containing  the 
valuables,  and  leaving  two  hands  in  charge  of  the  barge, 
rowed  ashore  with  us  all  in  the  boat.  It  was  then  about 
three  o'clock  in  the  morning,  and  I  was  very  glad  when  we 
arrived  at  the  receiving-house,  and  I  was  permitted  to  warm 
myself  before  the  fire.  As  soon  as  I  was  comfortable,  I 
lay  down  on  a  bench  and  fell  fast  asleep. 


Chapter  VIII 

One  of  the  ups  and  downs  of  Life — Up  before  the  Magistrates,  then  down 
the  River  again  in  the  Lighter — ^The  Toms — A  light  heart  upon  two 
sticks — Receive  my  first  lesson  in  singing — Our  Lighter  well-manned 
with  two  boys  and  a  fraction. 

I  DID  not  awake  the  next  morning  till  roused  by  the  police, 
who  brought  us  up  before  the  magistrates.  The  crowd 
that  followed  appeared  to  make  no  distinction  between  the 
prisoners  and  the  witness,  and  remarks  not  very  compli- 
mentary, and  to  me  very  annoying,  were  liberally  made. 
"  He's  a  young  hand  for  such  work,"  cried  one.  **  There's 
gallows  marked  in  his  face,"  observed  another,  to  whom, 


68  Jacob  Faithful 

when  I  turned  round  to  look  at  him,  I  certainly  could  have 
returned  the  compliment.  The  station  was  not  far  from 
the  magistrate's  office,  and  we  soon  arrived.  The  principal 
officer  went  into  the  inner  room,  and  communicated  with 
the  magistrates  before  they  came  out  and  took  their  seats 
on  the  bench. 

"Where  is  Jacob  Faithful?  My  lad,  do  you  know  the 
nature  of  an  oath  ? " 

I  answered  in  the  affirmative  ;  the  oath  was  administered, 
and  my  evidence  taken  down.  It  was  then  read  over  to 
the  prisoners,  who  were  asked  if  they  had  anything  to  say 
in  their  defence.  Fleming,  who  had  sent  for  his  lawyer, 
was  advised  to  make  no  answer.  Marables  quietly  replied, 
that  all  the  boy  had  said  was  quite  true. 

"  Recollect,"  said  the  magistrate,  "  we  cannot  accept 
you  as  king's  evidence ;  that  of  the  boy  is  considered 
sufficient." 

"  I  did  not  intend  that  you  should,"  replied  Marables. 
"  I  only  want  to  ease  my  conscience,  not  to  try  for  my 
pardon." 

They  were  then  committed  for  trial,  and  led  away  to 
prison.  I  could  not  help  going  up  to  Marables  and  shaking 
his  hand,  before  he  was  led  away.  He  lifted  up  his  two 
arms,  for  he  was  still  handcuffed,  and  wiped  his  eyes,  say- 
ing, "  Let  it  be  a  warning  to  you,  Jacob — not  that  I  think 
you  need  it ;  but  still  I  once  was  honest  as  yourself — and 
look  at  me  now."  And  he  cast  his  eyes  down  sorrowfully 
upon  his  fettered  wrists.  They  quitted  the  room,  Fleming 
giving  me  a  look  which  was  very  significant  of  what  my 
chance  would  be,  if  ever  I  fell  into  his  clutches. 

"  We  must  detain  you,  my  lad,"  observed  one  of  the 
magistrates,  "  without  you  can  procure  a  sufficient  bail 
for  your  appearance  as  witness  on  the  trial." 

I  replied,  that  I  knew  of  no  one,  except  my  master,  Mr 
Drummond,  and  my  schoolmaster;  and  had  no  means  of 
letting  them  know  of  my  situation. 

The  magistrate  then  directed  the  officer  to  go  down  by 
the  first  Brentford  coach,  acquaint  Mr  Drummond  with 


Jacob  Faithful  69 

what  had  passed,  and  that  the  lighter  would  remain  in 
charge  of  the  river  police  until  he  could  send  hands  on 
board  of  her ;  and  I  was  allowed  to  sit  down  on  a  bench 
behind  the  bar.  It  was  not  until  past  noon  that  Mr 
Drummond,  accompanied  by  the  Domine,  made  his  appear- 
ance. To  save  time,  the  magistrates  gave  them  my 
deposition  to  read  ;  they  put  in  bail,  and  I  was  permitted 
to  leave  the  court.  We  went  down  by  the  coach,  but, 
as  they  went  inside  and  I  was  out,  I  had  not  many 
questions  asked  until  my  arrival  at  Mr  Drummond's  house, 
when  I  gave  them  a  detailed  account  of  all  that  had 
happened. 

"Proh!  Deus!"  exclaimed  the  Domine,  when  I  had 
finished  my  story.  **  What  an  escape  !  How  narrowly, 
as  Propertius  hath  it  femininely,  *  Eripitur  nobis  jampridem 
carus  puer^  Well  was  it  that  thou  hadst  learnt  to  swim — 
verily  thou  must  have  struggled  lustily.  •  Pugnat  in 
adversas  ire  natator  aquas,^  yea,  lustily  for  thy  life,  child. 
Now,  God  be  praised  !  " 

But  Mr  Drummond  was  anxious  that  the  lighter  should 
be  brought  back  to  the  wharf;  he  therefore  gave  me 
my  dinner,  for  I  had  eaten  nothing  that  day,  and  then 
despatched  me  in  a  boat  with  two  men,  to  bring  her  up 
the  river.  The  next  morning  we  arrived ;  and  Mr 
Drummond,  not  having  yet  selected  any  other  person  to  take 
her  in  charge,  I  was  again  some  days  on  shore,  dividing 
my  time  between  the  Domine  and  Mr  Drummond's,  where 
I  was  always  kindly  treated,  not  only  by  him,  but  also 
by  his  wife,  and  his  little  daughter  Sarah. 

A  master  for  the  lighter  was  soon  found ;  and  as  I 
passed  a  considerable  time  under  his  orders,  I  must  describe 
him  particularly.  He  had  served  the  best  part  of  his  life 
on  board  a  man-of-war,  had  been  in  many  general  and  single 
actions,  and,  at  the  battle  of  Trafalgar,  had  wound  up  his 
servitude  with  the  loss  of  both  his  legs  and  an  out-pension 
from  Greenwich  Hospital,  which  he  preferred  to  being 
received  upon  the  establishment,  as  he  had  a  wife  and 
child.     Since  that  time  he  had  worked  on  the  river.     He 


70  Jacob  Faithful 

was  very  active,  and  broad  shouldered,  and  had  probably, 
before  he  lost  his  legs,  been  a  man  of  at  least  five  feet 
eleven  or  six  feet  high ;  but,  as  he  found  that  he  could 
keep  his  balance  better  upon  short  stumps  than  long  ones, 
he  had  reduced  his  wooden  legs  to  about  eight  inches  in 
length,  which,  with  his  square  body,  gave  him  the  appear- 
ance of  a  huge  dwarf.  He  bore,  and  I  will  say  most 
deservedly,  an  excellent  character.  His  temper  was 
always  cheerful,  and  he  was  a  little  inclined  to  drink;  but . 
the  principal  feature  in  him  was  lightness  of  heart  •,  he 
was  always  singing.  His  voice  was  very  fine  and  power- 
ful. When  in  the  service,  he  used  to  be  summoned  to 
sing  to  the  captain  and  officers,  and  was  the  delight  of 
the  forecastle.  His  memory  was  retentive,  and  his  stock 
of  songs  incredible ;  at  the  same  time,  he  seldom  or  never 
sang  more  than  one  or  two  stanzas  of  a  song  in  the  way 
of  quotation,  or  if  apt  to  what  was  going  on,  often  alter- 
ing the  words  to  suit  the  occasion.  He  was  accompanied 
by  his  son  Tom,  a  lad  of  my  own  age,  as  merry  as  his 
father,  and  who  had  a  good  treble  voice  and  a  great  deal 
of  humour  :  he  would  often  take  the  song  up  from  his 
father,  with  words  of  his  own  putting  in,  with  ready  wit 
and  good  tune.  We  three  composed  the  crew  of  the 
lighter  •,  and,  as  there  had  already  been  considerable  loss 
from  demurrage,  were  embarked  as  soon  as  they  arrived. 
The  name  of  the  father  was  Tom  Beazeley,  but  he  was 
always  known  on  the  river  as  "  old  Tom,"  or,  as  some 
more  learned  wag  had  christened  him,  "  the  Merman  on 
two  stichsr  As  soon  as  we  had  put  our  traps  on  board, 
as  old  Tom  called  them,  he  received  his  orders,  and  we 
cast  off"  from  the  wharf.  The  wind  was  favourable. 
Young  Tom  was  as  active  as  a  monkey,  and  as  full  of 
tricks.  His  father  took  the  helm,  while  we  two,  assisted 
by  a  dog  of  the  small  Newfoundland  breed,  which  Tom 
had  taught  to  take  a  rope  in  his  teeth,  and  be  of  no  small 
service  to  two  boys  in  bowsing  on  a  tackle,  made  sail 
upon  the  lighter,  and  away  we  went,  while  old  Tom's 
strain  might  be  heard  from  either  shore. 


Jacob  Faithful  71 

"Loose,  loose  every  sail  to  the  breeze, 
The  course  of  the  vessel  improve. 
I've  done  with  the  toil  of  the  seas  ; 
Ye  sailors,  I'm  bound  to  my  love. 

**  Tom,  you  beggar,  is  the  bundle  ready  for  your 
mother  ?  We  must  drop  the  skiff,  Jacob,  at  Battersea 
Reach,  and  send  the  clothes  on  shore  for  the  old  woman 
to  wash,  or  there'll  be  no  clean  shirts  for  Sunday.  Shove 
in  your  shirts,  Jacob,  the  old  woman  won't  mind  that. 
She  used  to  wash  for  the  mess.  Clap  on,  both  of  you, 
and  get  another  pull  at  those  halyards.  That'll  do,  my 
bantams. 

"  Hoist,  hoist,  every  sail  to  the  breeze, 

Come,  shipmates,  and  join  in  the  song, 
Let's  drink  while  the  barge  cuts  the  seas, 
To  the  gale  that  may  drive  her  along. 

**  Tom,  where's  my  pot  of  tea  ?  Come,  my  boy,  we 
must  pipe  to  breakfast.  Jacob,  there's  a  rope  towing 
overboard.  Now,  Tom,  hand  me  my  tea,  and  I'll  steer 
with  one  hand,  drink  with  the  other,  and  as  for  the  legs, 
the  less  we  say  about  them  the  better. 

''  No  glory  I  covet,  no  riches  I  want, 
Ambition  is  nothing  to  me. 
But  one  thing  I  beg  of  kind  Heaven  to  grant — " 

Here  Tom's  treble  chimed  in,  handing  him  the  pot, 

"  For  breakfast  a  good  cup  of  tea." 

"  Silence,  you  sea-cook !  how  dare  you  shove  in  your 
penny  whistle  ?     How's  tide,  Tom  ? " 

"  Three  quarters  ebb." 

*'  No,  it  a' n't,  you  thief  j  how  is  it,  Jacob  ? " 

«  About  half,  I  think." 

**  And  you're  right." 

**  What  water  have  we  down  here  on  the  side  ? " 

"  You  must  give  the  point  a  wide  berth,"  repHed  I ; 
"  the  shoal  runs  out." 

"Thanky,  boy,  so  I  thought,  but  wasn't  sure:"  and 
then  old  Tom  burst  out  in  a  beautiful  air. 


72  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Trust  not  too  much  your  own  opinion, 
When  your  vessel's  under  weigh, 
Let  good  advice  still  bear  dominion — 
That's  a  compass  will  not  stray." 

"  Old  Tom,  is  that  you  ?  "  hallooed  a  man  from  another 
barge. 

"  Yes  ;  what's  left  of  me,  my  hearty." 

*'  You'll  not  fetch  the  bridges  this  tide — there's  a  strong 
breeze  right  up  the  reaches  below." 

"  Never  mind,  we'll  do  all  we  can. 

"  If  unassail'd  by  squall  or  shower, 
Wafted  by  the  gentle  gales. 
Let's  not  lose  the  favouring  hour, 
while  success  attends  our  sails." 

"  Bravo,  old  Tom  !  why  don't  the  boys  get  the  lines 
out,  for  all  the  fishes  are  listening  to  you,"  cried  the  man, 
as  the  barges  were  parted  by  the  wind  and  tide. 

*'  I  did  once  belong  to  a  small  craft,  called  the  Arion," 
observed  old  Tom,  "  and  they  say  as  how  the  story  was, 
that  that  chap  could  make  the  fish  follow  him  just  when  he 
pleased.  I  know  that  when  we  were  in  the  North  Sea,  the 
shoals  of  seals  would  follow  the  ship  if  you  whistled ;  but 
those  brutes  have  ears — now  fish  hav'n't  got  none. 

"  Oh  well  do  I  remember  that  cold  dreary  land. 
Where  the  northern  light, 
In  the  winter's  night, 
Shone  briglit  on  its  snowy  strand. 

Jacob,  have  you  finished  your  breakfast  ?  Here,  take  the 
helm,  while  I  and  Tom  put  the  craft  a  little  into  applepie 
order." 

Old  Tom  then  stumped  forward,  followed  by  his  son 
and  the  Newfoundland  dog,  who  appeared  to  consider 
himself  as  one  of  the  most  useful  personages  on  board. 
After  coiling  down  the  ropes,  and  sweeping  the  decks, 
they  went  into  the  cabin  to  make  their  little  arrangements. 

"  A  good  lock  that,  Tom,"  cried  the  father,  turning  the 
key  of  the  cupboard.  (I  recollected  it,  and  that  its  snap- 
ping so  loud  was  the  occasion  of  my  being  tossed  over- 


Jacob  Faithful  ']'}, 

board.)  Old  Tom  continued  :  "  I  say,  Tom,  you  won't  be 
able  to  open  that  cupboard,  so  I'll  put  the  sugar  and  the 
grog  into  it,  you  scamp.  It  goes  too  fast,  when  you're 
purser's  steward. 

"  For  grog  is  our  larboard  and  starboard, 
Our  main-mast,  our  mizen,  our  log. 
On  shore,  or  at  sea,  or  when  harbour'd, 
The  mariner's  compass  is  grog." 

"  But  it  ar'n't  a  compass  to  steer  steady  by,  father," 
replied  Tom. 

"  Then  don't  you  have  nothing  to  do  with  it,  Tom." 

"  I  only  takes  a  little,  father,  because  you  mayn't  take 
too  much." 

"  Thanky  for  nothing  ;  when  do  I  ever  take  too  much, 
you  scamp  ? " 

"  Not  too  much  for  a  man  standing  on  his  own  pins,  but 
too  much  for  a  man  on  two  broomsticks." 

"  Stop  your  jaw,  Mr  Tom,  or  I'll  unscrew  one  of  the 
broomsticks,  and  lay  it  over  your  shoulders." 

*'  Before  it's  out  of  the  socket,  I'll  give  you  leg-bail. 
What  will  you  do  then,  father  ?  " 

*'  Catch  you  when  I  can,  Tom,  as  the  spider  takes  the 
fly." 

"What's  the  good  o'  that,  when  you  can't  bear  malice 
for  ten  minutes  ?  " 

"  Very  true,  Tom  ;  then  thank  your  stars  that  you  have 
two  good  legs,  and  that  your  poor  father  has  none." 

"  I  very  often  do  thank  my  stars,  and  that's  the  truth  of 
it ;  but  what's  the  use  of  being  angry  about  a  drop  of  rum, 
or  a  handful  of  sugar  ? " 

*'  Because  you  takes  more  than  your  allowance." 

"  Well,  do  you  take  less,  then  all  will  be  right." 

"  And  why  should  I  take  less,  pray  .'* " 

"  Because  you're  only  half  a  man ;  you  haven't  any  legs 
to  provide  for,  as  I  have." 

"  Now  I  tell  you,  Tom,  that's  the  very  reason  why  I 
should  have  more,  to  comfort  my  old  body  for  the  loss  of 
them." 


74  Jacob  Faithful 

**  When  you  lost  your  legs  you  lost  your  ballast,  father, 
and,  therefore,  you  mus'n't  carry  too  much  sail,  or  you'll 
topple  overboard  some  dark  night.  If  I  drink  the  grog,  it's 
all  for  your  good,  you  see." 

**  You're  a  dutiful  son  in  that  way,  at  all  events ;  and  a 
sweet  child,  as  far  as  sugar  goes  ;  but  Jacob  is  to  sleep 
in  the  cabin  with  me,  and  you'll  shake  your  blanket 
forward." 

"  Now  that  I  consider  quite  unnatural ;  why  part  father 
and  son  ? " 

"  It's  not  that  exactly,  it's  only  parting  son  and  the  grog- 
bottle." 

"  That's  just  as  cruel  ;  why  part  two  such  good 
friends  ?  " 

"  'Cause,  Tom,  he's  too  strong  for  you,  and  floors  you 
sometimes." 

**  Well,  but  I  forgives  him ;  it's  all  done  in  good 
humour." 

**  Tom,  you're  a  wag  -,  but  you  wag  your  tongue  to  no 
purpose.  Liquor  ar'n't  good  for  a  boy  like  you,  and  it 
grows  upon  you." 

"  Well,  don't  I  grow  too  ?  we  grow  together." 

**  You'll  grow  faster  without  it." 

**  I've  no  wish  to  be  a  tall  man  cut  short,  like  you." 

**  If  I  hadn't  been  a  tall  man,  my  breath  would  have 
been  cut  short  for  ever  ;  the  ball  which  took  my  legs,  would 
have  cut  you  right  in  half." 

*'  And  the  ball  that  would  take  your  head  off,  would 
whistle  over  mine  ;  so  there  we  are  equal  again." 

"  And  there's  the  grog,  fast,"  rephed  old  Tom,  turning 
the  key,  and  putting  it  into  his  pocket.  "  That's  a  stopper 
over  all ;  so  now  we'll  go  on  deck." 

I  have  narrated  this  conversation,  as  it  will  give  the 
reader  a  better  idea  of  Tom,  and  his  way  of  treating  his 
father.  Tom  was  fond  of  his  father,  and  although 
mischievous,  and  too  fond  of  drinking  when  he  could  obtain 
liquor,  was  not  disobedient  or  vicious.  We  had  nearly 
reached  Battersea  Fields  when  they  returned  on  deck. 


Jacob  Faithful  75 

"  Do  you  know,  Jacob,  how  the  parish  of  Battercea 
came  into  possession  of  those  fields  ?  " 

"  No,  I  do  not." 

**  Well,  then,  I'll  tell  you  ;  it  was  because  the  Battersea 
people  were  more  humane  and  charitable  than  their  neigh- 
bours. There  was  a  time  when  those  fields  were  of  no 
value  ;  now  they're  worth  a  mint  of  money,  they  say.  The 
body  of  a  poor  devil,  who  was  drowned  in  the  river,  was 
washed  on  shore  on  those  banks,  and  none  of  the  parishes 
would  be  at  the  expense  of  burying  it.  The  Battersea 
people,  though  they  had  least  right  to  be  called  upon, 
would  not  allow  the  poor  fellow's  corpse  to  be  lying  on  the 
mud,  and  they  went  to  the  expense.  Now,  when  the 
fields  became  of  value,  the  other  parishes  were  ready 
enough  to  claim  them  •,  but  the  case  was  tried,  and  as  it 
was  proved  that  Battersea  had  buried  the  body,  the  fields 
were  decided  to  belong  to  that  parish.  So  they  were  well 
paid  for  their  humanity,  and  they  deserved  it.  Mr 
Drummond  says  you  know  the  river  well,  Jacob." 

"  I  was  born  on  it." 

"  Yes,  so  I  heard,  and  all  about  your  father  and  mother's 
death.  I  was  telling  Tom  of  it,  because  he's  too  fond  of 
bowsing  up  his  jib, ^'' 

"  Well,  father,  there's  no  occasion  to  remind  Jacob  ;  the 
tear  is  in  his  eye  already,"  replied  Tom,  with  consideration. 

**  I  wish  you  never  had  any  other  drop  in  your  eye, — but 
never  mind,  Jacob,  I  didn't  think  of  what  I  was  saying. 
Look  ye,  d'ye  see  that  little  house  with  the  two  chimneys 
— that's  mine,  and  there's  my  old  woman — I  wonder  what 
she's  about  just  now."  Old  Tom  paused  for  a  while,  with 
his  eyes  fixed  on  the  object,  and  then  burst  out : 

"  I've  crossed  the  wide  waters,  I've  trod  the  lone  strand, 
I've  triumph'd  in  battle,  I've  lighted  the  brand  ; 
I've  borne  the  loud  thunder  of  death  o'er  the  foam  ; 
Fame,  riches,  ne'er  found  them, — yet  still  found  a  home. 

**  Tom,  boy,  haul  up  the  skiff  and  paddle  on  shore  with 
the  bundle ;  ask  the  old  woman  how  she  is,  and  tell  her 
I'm   hearty."     Tom   was   in  the   boat   in  a  moment,  and 


y6  Jacob  Faithful 

pulling  lustily  for  the  shore.  *'  That  makes  me  recollect 
when  I  returned  to  my  mother,  a'ter  the  first  three  years 
of  my  sea  service.  I  borrowed  the  skiff  from  the  skipper 
— I  was  in  a  Greenlandman,  my  first  ship,  and  pulled 
ashore  to  my  mother's  cottage  under  the  cliff.  I  thought 
the  old  soul  would  have  died  with  joy."  Here  old  Tom 
was  silent,  brushed  a  tear  from  his  eye,  and,  as  usual 
commenced  a  strain,  sotto  voce  : 

"  Why,  what's  that  to  you,  if  my  eyes  I'm  a  wiping  ? 
A  tear  is  a  pleasure,  d'ye  see,  in  its  way. 

"  How  miserable,"  continued  he,  after  another  pause, 
"  the  poor  thing  was  when  I  would  go  to  sea — how  she 
begged  and  prayed — boys  have  no  feeling,  that's  sartin. 

"  O  bairn,  dinna  leave  me,  to  gang  far  away, 
O  bairn,  dinna  leave  me,  ye're  ail  that  I  hae, 
Think  on  a  mither,  the  wind  and  the  wave, 
A  mither  set  on  ye,  her  feet  on  the  grave, 

"  However,  she  got  used  to  it  at  last,  as  the  woman  said 
when  she  skinned  the  eels.  Tom's  a  good  boy,  Jacob, 
but  not  steady,  as  they  say  you  are.  His  mother  spoils 
him,  and  I  can't  bear  to  be  cross  to  him  neither ;  for  his 
heart's  in  the  right  place,  after  all.  There's  the  old 
woman  shaking  her  dishclout  at  us,  as  a  signal.  I  wish 
I  had  gone  on  shore  myself,  but  I  can't  step  into  those 
paper-built  little  boats,  without  my  timber  toes  going 
through  at  the  bottom." 


Chapter  IX 

The  two  Toms  take  to  protocoUing — Treaty  of  Peace  ratified  between  the 
belligerent  parties — Lots  of  songs  and  supper — The  largest  mess  of  roast 
meat  upon  record, 

Tom  then  shoved  off  the  skiff.  When  half-way  between 
the  lighter  and  the  shore,  while  his  mother  stood  watching 
us,  he  lay  on  his  oars.     "  Tom,  Tom  !  "  cried  his  mother, 


Jacob  Faithful  77 

shaking  her  fist  at  him,  as  he  stooped  down  his  head  ; 
"  if  you  do,  Tom  !  " 

"  Tom,  Tom ! "  cried  his  father,  shaking  his  fist  also ; 
"  if  you  dare,  Tom  !  " 

But  Tom  was  not  within  reach  of  either  party  ;  and  he 
dragged  a  bottle  out  of  the  basket  which  his  mother  had 
entrusted  to  him,  and  putting  it  to  his  mouth,  took  a  long 
swig. 

"  That's  enough,  Tom  !  "  screamed  his  mother,  from  the 
shore. 

"That's  too  much,  you  rascal!  "  cried  his  father,  from 
the  barge. 

Neither  admonition  was,  however,  minded  by  Tom,  who 
took  what  he  considered  his  allowance,  and  then  very 
coolly  pulled  alongside,  and  handed  up  the  basket  and 
bundle  of  clean  clothes  on  deck.  Tom  then  gave  the 
boat's  painter  to  his  father,  who,  I  perceived,  intended  to 
salute  him  with  the  end  of  it  as  soon  as  he  came  up  ;  but 
Tom  was  too  knowing — he  surged  the  boat  ahead,  and 
was  on  deck  and  forward  before  his  father  could  stump  up 
to  him.  The  main  hatch  was  open,  and  Tom  put  that 
obstacle  between  his  father  and  himself  before  he  com- 
menced his  parley. 

"What's  the  matter,  father?"  said  Tom,  smiling,  and 
looking  at  me. 

"  Matter,  you  scamp  !    How  dare  you  touch  the  bottle?" 

**  The  bottle — the  bottle's  there,  as  good  as  ever." 

**  The  grog  is  what  I  mean — how  dare  you  drink  it  ?" 

*'  I  was  half  way  between  my  mother  and  you,  and  so  I 
drank  success  and  long  life  to  you  both.  Arn't  that  being 
a  very  dutiful  son  ? " 

**  I  wish  I  had  my  legs  back  again,  you  rascal !  " 

**  You  wish  you  had  the  grog  back  again,  you  mean, 
father.  You  have  to  choose  between — for  if  you  had  tlie 
grog,  you'd  keep  your  legs." 

"  For  the  matter  of  drinking  the  grog,  you  scamp,  you 
seem  determined  to  stand  in  my  shoes." 

**  Well,  shoes  are  of  no  use  to  you  now,  father — why 


78  Jacob  Faithful 

shouldn't  I  ?  "Why  don't  you  trust  me  ?  If  you  hadn't 
locked  the  cupboard,  I  wouldn't  have  helped  myself." 
And  Tom,  whose  bootlace  was  loose,  stooped  down  to 
make  it  fast. 

Old  Tom,  who  was  still  in  wrath,  thought  this  a  good 
opportunity,  as  his  son's  head  was  turned  the  other  way, 
to  step  over  the  bricks,  with  which,  as  I  before  said,  the 
lighter  had  been  laden  level  with  the  main  hatchway,  and 
take  his  son  by  surprise.  Tom,  who  had  no  idea  of  this 
manoeuvre,  would  certainly  have  been  captured,  but, 
fortunately  for  him,  one  of  the  upper  bricks  turned  over, 
and  let  his  father's  wooden  leg  down  between  two  of  the 
piles,  where  it  was  jammed  fast.  Old  Tom  attempted  to 
extricate  himself,  but  could  not.  '*  Tom,  Tom,  come 
here,"  cried  he,  "  and  pull  me  out." 

*'  Not  I,"  replied  Tom,  coolly. 

'*  Jacob,  Jacob,  come  here ;  Tom,  run  and  take  the 
helm." 

"  Not  I,"  replied  Tom. 

*'  Jacob,  never  mind  the  helm,  she'll  drift  all  right  for  a 
minute  ; "  cried  old  Tom  ;  "  come,  and  help  me." 

But  I  had  been  so  amused  with  the  scene,  and  having  a 
sort  of  feeling  for  young  Tom,  that  I  declared  it  impossible 
to  leave  the  helm  without  her  going  on  the  banks.  I 
therefore  remained,  wishing  to  see  in  what  way  the  two 
Toms  would  get  out  of  their  respective  scrapes. 

"  Confound  these !     Tom,  you  scoundrel,  am  I  to 

stick  here  all  day  ? " 

*'  No,  father,  I  don't  suppose  you  will.  I  shall  help 
you  directly." 

"Well,  then,  why  don't  you  do  it  ?" 

"  Because  I  must  come  to  terms.  You  don't  think  I'd 
help  myself  to  a  thrashing,  do  you  ?  " 

**I  won't  thrash  you,  Tom.  Shiver  my  timbers  if  I 
do." 

"  They're  in  a  fair  way  of  being  shivered  as  it  is,  I 
think.     Now,  father,  we're  both  even." 

"  How's  that  ?  " 


Jacob  Faithful  79 

"  Why,  you  clapped  a  stopper  over  all  on  me  this 
morning,  and  now  you've  got  one  on  yourself." 

"  Well,  then,  take  off  mine,  and  I'll  take  off  yours." 

*'  If  I  unlock  your  leg,  you'll  unlock  the  cupboard  ? " 

♦♦  Yes." 

"  And  you  promise  me  a  stiffs  one  after  dinner  ?  " 

*'  Yes,  yes,  as  stiff  as  I  stand  here." 

"  No,  that  will  be  too  much,  for  it  would  set  me  fast.  I 
only  like  it  about  half-and-half,  as  I  took  it  just  now." 

Tom,  who  was  aware  that  his  father  would  adhere  to 
his  agreement,  immediately  went  to  his  assistance,  and 
throwing  out  some  of  the  upper  bricks,  released  him  from 
his  confinement.  When  old  Tom  was  once  more  on  the 
deck  and  on  his  legs,  he  observed,  "  It's  an  ill  wind  that 
blows  nobody  good.  The  loss  of  my  legs  has  been  the 
saving  of  you  many  a  time,  Mr  Tom." 

It  was  now  time  to  anchor,  as  we  were  meeting  the 
flood.  Tom,  who  officiated  as  cook,  served  up  the  dinner, 
which  was  ready ;  and  we  were  all  very  pleasant ;  Tom 
treating  his  father  with  perfect  confidence.  As  we  had 
not  to  weigh  again  for  some  hours,  our  repast  was  pro- 
longed, and  old  Tom,  having  fulfilled  his  promise  to  his 
son,  of  a  stiffs  oncy  took  one  or  two  himself,  and  became 
very  garrulous. 

**  Come,  spin  us  a  good  yarn,  father ;  we've  nothing  to 
do,  and  Jacob  will  like  to  hear  you." 

"Well,  then,  so  I  will,"  answered  he;  "what  shall  it 
be  about  ? " 

"  Fire  and  water,  of  course,"  replied  Tom. 

"  Well,  then,  I'll  tell  you  something  about  both,  since 
you  wish  itj  how  I  came  into  his  Majesty's  sarvice  through 
fire,  and  how  the  officer  who  pressed  me  went  out  of  it 
through  "water.  I  was  still  'prentice,  and  wanted  about 
three  months  to  sarve  my  time,  when,  of  course,  I  should 
no  longer  be  protected  from  sarving  the  king,  when  the 
ship  I  was  in  sailed  up  the  Baltic  with  a  cargo  of  bullocks. 
We  had  at  least  two  hundred  on  board,  tied  up  on  plat- 
forms on  every  deck,  with  their  heads  close  to  the  sides. 


So  Jacob  Faithful 

and  all  their  sterns  looking  in  board.  They  "were  fat 
enough  when  they  were  shipped,  but  soon  dwindled  away: 
the  weather  was  very  bad,  and  the  poor  creatures  rolled 
against  each  other,  and  slipped  about  in  a  way  that  it  pitied 
you  to  see  them.  However,  they  were  stowed  so  thick, 
that  they  held  one  another  up,  which  proved  of  service  to 
them  in  the  heavy  gales  which  tossed  the  ship  about  like  a 
pea  in  a  rattle.  We  had  joined  a  large  convoy,  and  were 
entering  the  Sound,  when,  as  usual,  it  fell  calm,  and  out 
came  the  Danish  gunboats  to  attack  us.  The  men-of-war 
who  had  charge  of  the  convoy  behaved  nobly ;  but  still 
they  were  becalmed,  and  many  of  us  were  a  long  way 
astern.  Our  ship  was  pretty  well  up  -,  but  she  was  too  far 
in-shore ;  and  the  Danes  made  a  dash  at  us  with  the  hope 
of  making  a  capture.  The  men-of-war,  seeing  what  the 
enemy  were  about,  sent  boats  to  beat  them  off;  but  it  was 
too  late  to  prevent  them  boarding,  which  they  did.  Not 
wishing  to  peep  through  the  bars  of  the  gaol  at  Copen- 
hagen, we  left  the  ship  in  our  boats  on  one  side,  just  as  the 
Danes  boarded  on  the  other,  and  pulled  towards  the  men- 
of-war's  armed  boats  coming  to  our  assistance.  The  men- 
of-war's  boats  pulled  right  for  the  ship  to  retake  her,  which 
they  did,  certainly,  but  not  before  the  enemy  had  set  fire 
to  the  vessel,  and  had  then  pulled  off  towards  another. 
Seeing  this,  the  men-of-war's  boats  again  gave  chase  to  the 
Danes,  leaving  us  to  extinguish  the  flames,  which  were 
now  bursting  out  fore  and  aft,  and  climbing  like  fiery 
serpents  up  to  the  main  catharpings.  We  soon  found  that 
it  was  impossible ;  we  remained  as  long  as  the  heat  and 
smoke  would  permit  us,  and  then  we  were  obliged  to  be 
off;  but  I  shall  never  forget  the  roaring  and  moaning  of 
the  poor  animals  who  were  then  roasting  alive.  It  was  a 
cruel  thing  of  the  Danes  to  fire  a  vessel  full  of  these  poor 
creatures.  Some  had  broken  loose,  and  were  darting  up 
and  down  the  decks  goring  others,  and  tumbling  down  the 
hatchways :  others  remained  trembling,  or  trying  to  snufF 
up  a  mouthful  of  fresh  air  amongst  the  smoke ;  but  the 
struggling  and  bellowing,  as  the  fire  caught  the  vessel  fore 


Jacob  Faithful  8i 

and  aft,  and  was  gi'IUing  two  hundred  poor  creatures  at 
once,  was  at  last  shocking,  and  might  have  been  heard  for 
a  mile.  We  did  all  we  could.  I  cut  the  throats  of  a 
dozen,  but  they  kicked  and  struggled  so  much,  falling 
down  upon,  and  treading  you  under  their  feet ;  and  once  one 
lay  upon  me,  and  I  expected  to  be  burnt  with  them,  for  it 
was  not  until  I  was  helped  that  I  got  clear  of  the  poor 
animal.  So  we  stayed  as  long  as  we  could,  and  then  left 
them  to  their  fate ;  and  the  smell  of  burnt  meat  as  we 
shoved  off  was  as  horrible  as  the  cries  and  wailings  of  the 
poor  beasts  themselves.  The  men-of-war's  boats  returned, 
having  chased  away  the  Danes,  and  very  kindly  offered  us 
all  a  ship,  as  we  had  lost  our  own,  so  that  you  see  that  by 
fire  I  was  forced  into  his  Majesty's  sarvice.  Now,  the  boat 
which  took  us  belonged  to  one  of  the  frigates  who  had 
charge  of  the  convoy,  and  the  lieutenant  who  commanded 
the  boat  was  a  swearing,  tearing  sort  of  a  chap,  who  lived 
as  if  his  life  was  to  last  for  ever.  After  I  was  taken  on 
board,  the  captain  asked  me  if  I  would  enter,  and  I  thought 
that  I  might  as  well  sarve  the  king  handsomely,  so  I 
volunteered.  It's  always  the  best  thing  to  do,  when  you're 
taken,  and  can't  help  yourself,  for  you  are  more  trusted 
than  a  pressed  man  who  is  obstinate.  I  liked  the  sarvice 
from  the  first — the  captain  was  not  a  particular  man ;  accord- 
ing to  some  people's  idea  of  the  sarvice,  she  wasn't  in  quite 
man-of-war  fashion,  but  she  was  a  happy  ship,  and  the  men 
would  have  followed  and  fought  for  the  captain  to  the  last 
drop  of  their  blood.  That's  the  sort  of  ship  for  me.  I've 
seen  cleaner  decks,  but  I  never  saw  merrier  hearts.  The 
only  one  of  the  officers  disliked  by  the  men  was  the 
lieutenant  who  pressed  me ;  he  had  a  foul  mouth  and  no 
discretion ;  and  as  for  swearing,  it  was  really  terrible  to 
hear  the  words  which  came  out  of  his  mouth.  I  don't  mind 
an  oath  rapped  out  in  the  heat  of  the  moment,  but  he  in- 
vented his  oaths  when  he  was  cool,  and  let  them  out  in  his 
rage.  We  were  returning  home,  after  having  seen  the 
convoy  safe,  when  we  met  with  a  gale  of  wind  in  our 
teeth,  one  of  the  very  worst  I  ever  fell  in  with.     It  had  been 

J.F.  F 


'V 


^ 


82  Jacob  Faithful 

blowing  hard  from  the  S.W.,  and  then  shifted  to  the  N.W., 
and  made  a  cross  sea,  which  was  tremendous.  Now,  the 
frigate  was  a  very  old  vessel,  and  although  they  had  often 
had  her  into  dock  and  repaired  her  below,  they  had  taken 
no  notice  of  her  upper  works,  which  were  as  rotten  as  a 
medlar.  I  think  it  was  about  three  bells  in  the  middle 
watch,  when  the  wind  was  howling  through  the  rigging, 
for  we  had  no  canvas  on  her  'cept  a  staysail  and  trysail, 
when  the  staysail  sheet  went,  and  she  broached-to  afore 
they  could  prevent  her.  The  lieutenant  I  spoke  of  had  the 
watch,  and  his  voice  was  heard  through  the  roaring  of  the 
wind,  swearing  at  the  men  to  haul  down  the  staysail,  that 
we  might  bend  on  the  sheet,  and  set  it  right  again ;  when, 
she  having,  I  said,  broached-to,  a  wave — ay,  a  wave  as  high 
as  the  maintop  almost,  took  the  frigate  right  on  her  broad- 
side, and  the  bulwarks  of  the  quarter-deck  being,  as  I  said, 
quite  rotten,  cut  them  off  clean  level  with  the  main  chains, 
sweeping  them,  and  guns,  and  men,  all  overboard  together. 
The  mizen-mast  went,  but  the  main-mast  held  on,  and  I 
was  under  its  lee  at  the  time,  and  was  saved  by  clinging  on 
like  a  nigger,  while  for  a  minute  I  was  under  the  water, 
which  carried  almost  all  away  with  it  to  leeward.  As  soon 
as  the  water  passed  over  me,  I  looked  up  and  around  me — 
it  was  quite  awful ;  the  quarter-deck  was  cut  off  as  with  a 
knife — not  a  soul  left  there,  that  I  could  see ;  no  man  at 
the  wheel — mizen-mast  gone — skylights  washed  away — 
waves  making  a  clear  breach,  and  no  defence  ;  boats  washed 
away  from  the  quarters — all  silent  on  deck,  but  plenty  of 
noise  below  and  on  the  main-deck,  for  the  ship  was  nearly 
full  of  water,  and  all  below  were  hurrying  up  in  their  shirts, 
thinking  that  we  were  going  down.  At  last  the  captain 
crawled  up,  and  clung  by  the  stanchions,  followed  by  the 
first  lieutenant  and  the  officers,  and  by  degrees  all  was 
quiet,  the  ship  was  cleared,  and  the  hands  were  turned  up 
to  ^muster  under  the  half-deck.  There  were  forty-seven 
men  who  did  not  answer  to  their  names — they  had  been 
summoned  to  answer  for  their  lives,  poor  fellows  !  and 
there  was  also  the  swearing  lieutenant  not  to  be  found. 


Jacob  Faithful  83 

Well,  at  last  we  got  the  hands  on  deck,  and  put  her  before 
the  wind,  scudding  under  bare  poles.  As  we  went  aft  to 
the  taffrail,  the  bulwark  of  which  still  remained,  with  about 
six  feet  of  the  quarter-deck  bulwark  on  each  side,  we 
observed  something  clinging  to  the  stern-ladder,  dipping 
every  now  and  then  into  the  sea,  as  it  rose  under  her 
counter,  and  assisted  the  wind  in  driving  her  before  the 
gale.  We  soon  made  it  out  to  be  a  man,  and  I  went  down, 
slipped  a  bowling  knot  over  the  poor  fellow,  and  with  some 
difficulty  we  were  both  hauled  up  again.  It  proved  to  be 
the  lieutenant,  who  had  been  washed  under  the  counter, 
and  clung  to  the  stern  ladder,  and  had  thus  miraculously 
been  preserved.  It  was  a  long  while  before  he  came  to, 
and  he  never  did  any  duty  the  whole  week  we  were  out, 
till  we  got  into  Yarmouth  Roads  j  indeed,  he  hardly  ever 
spoke  a  word  to  any  one,  but  seemed  to  be  always  ia 
serious  thought.  When  we  arrived,  he  gave  his  commis- 
sion to  the  captain,  and  went  on  shore ;  went  to  school 
again,  they  say,  and  bore  up  for  a  parson,  and  for  all  I  know, 
he'll  preach  somewhere  next  Sunday.  So  you  see,  tuater 
drove  him  out  of  the  service,  and  Jire  forced  me  in. 
There's  a  yarn  for  you,  Jacob." 

"  I  hke  it  very  much,"  replied  I. 

**  And  now,  father,  give  us  a  whole  song,  and  none  of 
your  little  bits."  Old  Tom  broke  out  with  the  "  Death 
of  Nelson,"  in  a  style  that  made  the  tune  and  words  ring  in 
my  ears  for  the  whole  evening. 

The  moon  was  up  before  the  tide  served,  and  we 
weighed  our  anchor  ;  old  Tom  steering,  while  his  son 
was  preparing  supper,  and  I  remaining  forward,  keeping  a 
sharp  look  out  that  we  did  not  run  foul  of  anything.  It 
was  a  beautiful  night  •,  and  as  we  passed  through  the 
several  bridges,  the  city  appeared  as  if  it  were  illuminated, 
from  the  quantity  of  gas  throwing  a  sort  of  halo  of  light 
over  the  tops  of  the  buildings  which  occasionally  marked 
out  the  main  streets  from  the  general  dark  mass — old 
Tom's  voice  was  still  occasionally  heard,  as  the  scene 
brought  to  his  remembrance  his  variety  of  song. 


84  Jacob  Faithful 

"  For  the  murmur  of  thy  lip,  love, 
Comes  sweetly  unto  me, 
As  the  sound  of  oars  that  dip,  love, 
At  moonlight  in  the  sea." 

I  never  was  more  delighted  than  when  I  heard  these 
snatches  of  different  songs  poured  forth  in  such  melody 
from  old  Tom's  lips,  the  notes  floating  along  the  water 
during  the  silence  of  the  night.  I  turned  aft  to  look  at 
him ;  his  face  was  directed  upwards,  looking  on  the  moon, 
which  glided  majestically  through  the  heavens,  silvering 
the  whole  of  the  landscape.  The  water  was  smooth  as 
glass,  and  the  rapid  tide  had  swept  us  clear  of  the  ranges 
of  ships  in  the  pool  j  both  banks  of  the  river  were  clear, 
when  old  Tom  again  commenced  : 

"  The  moon  is  up,  her  silver  beam 

Shines  bower,  and  grove,  and  mountain  over  ; 
A  flood  of  radiance  heaven  doth  seem 
To  light  thee,  maiden,  to  thy  lover. 

**  Jacob,  how  does  the  bluff-nob  bear .''  on  the  starboard 
bow  ? " 

"  Yes — broad  on  the  bow  •,  you'd  better  keep  up  half  a 
point,  the  tide  sweeps  us  fast." 

"Very  true,  Jacob  ;  look  out,  and  say  when  Steady  it 
is,  boy. 

"  If  o'er  her  orb  a  cloud  should  rest, 

"Tis  but  thy  cheek's  soft  blush  to  cover. 
He  waits  to  clasp  thee  to  his  breast ; 
The  moon  is  up — go,  meet  thy  lover. 

•'  Tom,  what  have  you  got  for  supper,  boy  ?  What  is 
that  frizzing  in  your  frying-pan  ?      Smells  good,  anyhow." 

**  Yes,  and  I  expect  will  taste  good  too.  However, 
you  look  after  the  moon,  father,  and  leave  me  and  the 
frying-pan  to  play  our  parts." 

''While  I  sing  mine,  I  suppose,  boy. 

"The  moon  is  up,  round  beauty's  shrine. 
Love's  pilgrims  bend  at  vesper  hour, 
Earth  breathes  to  heaven,  and  looks  divine, 
And  lovers'  hearts  confess  her  power.'' 


Jacob  Faithful  85 

Old  Tom  stopped,  and  the  frying-pan  frizzed  on, 
sending  forth  an  odour  which,  if  not  grateful  to  Heaven, 
was  peculiarly  so  to  us  mortals,  hungry  with  the  fresh 
air. 

"  How  do  we  go  now,  Jacob  ?  " 

"  Steady,  and  all's  right ;  but  we  shall  be  met  with 
the  wind  next  reach,  and  had  better  brail  up  the  mainsail." 

"  Go,  then,  Tom,  and  help  Jacob." 

**  I  can't  leave  the  ingons,  father,  not  if  the  lighter 
tumbled  overboard ;  it  would  bring  more  tears  in  my 
eyes  to  spoil  them,  now  that  they  are  frying  so  merrily, 
than  they  did  when  I  was  cutting  them  up.  Besides, 
the  liver  would  be  as  black  as  the  bends." 

"  Clap  the  frying-pan  down  on  deck,  Tom,  and  brail 
the  sail  up  with  Jacob,  there's  a  good  boy.  You  can 
give  it  another  shake  or  two  afterwards. 

"  Glide  on,  my  bark  ;  how  sweet  to  rove, 
With  such  a  beaming  eye  above ! 

*'  That's  right,  my  boys,  belay  all  that ;  now  to  our 
stations  ;  Jacob  on  the  look-out,  Tom  to  his  frying-pan, 
and  I  to  the  helm. 

"  No  sound  is  heard  to  break  the  spell, 
Except  the  water's  gentle  swell ; 
While  midnight,  like  a  mimic  day, 
Shines  on  to  guide  our  moonlight  way. 

"  "Well,  the  moon's  a  beautiful  creature — God  bless  her ! 
How  often  have  we  longed  for  her  in  the  dark  winter, 
channel-cruising,  when  the  waves  were  flying  over  the 
Eddystone,  and  trying  in  their  malice  to  put  out  the 
light.  I  don't  wonder  at  people  making  songs  to  the 
moon,  nor  at  my  singing  them.  We'll  anchor  when  we 
get  down  the  next  reach." 

We  swept  the  next  reach  with  the  tide,  which  was 
now  slacking  fast.  Our  anchor  was  dropped,  and  we 
all  went  to  supper,  and  to  bed.  I  have  been  particular 
in  describing  the  first  day  of  my  being  on  board  with  my 
new  shipmates,  as  it  may  be  taken  as  a  sample  of  our 


86  Jacob  Faithful 

every-day  life ;  Tom  and  his  father  fighting  and  making 
friends,  cooking,  singing,  and  spinning  yarns.  Still,  I 
shall  have  more  scenes  to  describe.  Our  voyage  was 
made,  we  took  in  a  return  cargo,  and  arrived  at  the 
proprietor's  wharf,  when  I  found  that  I  could  not  pro- 
ceed with  them  the  next  voyage,  as  the  trial  of  Fleming 
and  Marables  was  expected  to  come  on  in  a  few  days. 
The  lighter,  therefore,  took  in  another  cargo,  and  sailed 
without  me ;  Mr  Drummond,  as  usual,  giving  me  the 
run  of  his  house. 


Chapter    X 

I  help  to  hang  my  late  bargemate  for  his  attempt  to  drown  me — One  good 
turn  deserves  another — The  subject  suddenly  dropped  at  Newgate — A 
yarn  in  the  law  line — With  due  precautions  and  preparations,  the 
Domine  makes  his  first  voyage — To  Gravesend. 

It  was  on  the  7th  of  November,  if  I  recollect  rightly, 
that  Fleming  and  Marables  were  called  up  to  trial  at  the 
Old  Bailey,  and  I  was  in  the  court,  with  Mr  Drummond 
and  the  Domine,  soon  after  ten  o'clock.  After  the  judge 
had  taken  his  seat,  as  their  trial  was  first  on  the  list, 
they  were  ushered  in.  They  were  both  clean  and  well 
dressed.  In  Fleming  I  could  perceive  little  difference ; 
he  was  pale,  but  resolute :  but  when  I  looked  at  Marables, 
I  was  astonished.  Mr  Drummond  did  not  at  first  re- 
cognise him; — he  had  fallen  away  from  seventeen  stone 
to,  at  the  most,  thirteen — his  clothes  hung  loosely  about 
him — his  ruddy  cheeks  had  vanished — his  nose  was 
becoming  sharp,  and  his  full  round  face  had  been  changed 
to  an  oblong.  Still  there  remained  that  natural  good- 
humoured  expression  in  his  countenance,  and  the  sweet 
smile  played  upon  his  lips.  His  eyes  glanced  fearfully 
round  the  court — he  felt  his  disgraceful  situation — the 
colour  mounted  to  his  temples  and  forehead,  and  he  then 
became  again  pale  as  a  sheet,  casting  down  his  eyes,  as 
if  desirous  to  see  no  more. 


Jacob  Faithful  87 

After  the  indictment  had  been  read  over,  the  prisoners 
were  asked  by  the  clerk  whether  they  pleaded  guilty 
or  not  guilty.  "  Not  guilty,"  replied  Fleming,  in  a 
bold  voice.  "John  Marables — guilty  or  not  guilty?" 
"Guilty,"  replied  Marables — "guilty,  my  lordj"  and 
he  covered  up  his  face  with  his  hands. 

Fleming  was  indicted  on  three  counts  ; — an  assault,  with 
intent  to  murder  ;  having  stolen  goods  in  his  possession  j 
and  for  a  burglary  in  a  dwelling-house,  on  such  a  date  ; 
but  I  understand  that  they  had  nearly  twenty  more  charges 
against  him,  had  these  failed.  Marables  was  indicted  for 
having  been  an  accessory  to  the  last  charge,  as  receiver  of 
stolen  goods.  The  counsel  for  the  crown,  who  opened 
the  trial,  stated  that  Fleming,  alias  Barkett,  alias  Wenn, 
with  many  more  aliases,  had  for  a  long  while  been  at  the 
head  of  the  most  notorious  gang  of  thieves  which  had 
infested  the  metropolis  for  many  years  ;  that  justice  had 
long  been  in  search  of  him,  but  that  he  had  disappeared, 
and  it  had  been  supposed  that  he  had  quitted  the  kingdom 
to  avoid  the  penalties  of  the  law,  to  which  he  had  subjected 
himself  by  his  enormities.  It  appeared,  however,  that  he 
had  taken  a  step  which  not  only  blinded  the  officers  of  the 
police,  but  at  the  same  time  had  enabled  the  gang  to  carry 
on  their  depredations  with  more  impunity  than  ever.  He 
had  concealed  himself  in  a  lighter  on  the  river,  and  appear- 
ing in  her  as  one  diligently  performing  his  duty,  and 
earning  his  livelihood  as  an  honest  man,  had  by  such  means 
been  enabled  even  to  extend  his  influence,  the  number  of 
his  associates,  and  his  audacious  schemes.  The  principal 
means  of  detection  in  cases  of  burglary  was  by  advertising 
the  goods,  and  the  great  difficulty  on  the  part  of  such 
miscreants  was  to  obtain  a  ready  sale  for  them — the  re- 
ceivers of  stolen  goods  being  aware  that  the  thieves  were 
at  their  mercy,  and  must  accept  what  was  offered.  Now, 
to  obviate  these  difficulties,  Fleming  had,  as  we  before 
observed,  concealed  himself  from  justice  on  board  of  a 
river  barge,  which  was  made  the  receptacle  for  stolen 
goods  :  those  which  had  been  nefariously  obtained  at  one 


88  Jacob  Faithful 

place,  being  by  him  and  his  associates  carried  up  and  down 
the  river  in  the  craft,  and  disposed  of  at  a  great  distance, 
by  which  means  the  goods  were  never  brought  to  light,  so 
as  to  enable  the  police  to  recognise  or  trace  them.  This 
system  had  now  been  carried  on  with  great  success  for 
upwards  of  twelve  months,  and  would,  in  all  probability, 
have  not  been  discovered  even  now,  had  it  not  been  that  a 
quarrel  as  to  profits  had  taken  place,  which  had  induced 
two  of  his  associates  to  give  information  to  the  officers  ; 
and  these  two  associates  had  also  been  permitted  to  turn 
king's  evidence,  in  a  case  of  burglary,  in  which  Fleming 
was  a  principal,  provided  that  it  was  considered  necessary. 
But  there  was  a  more  serious  charge  against  the  prisoner, 
— that  of  having  attempted  the  life  of  a  boy,  named  Jacob 
Faithful,  belonging  to  the  lighter,  and  who,  it  appeared, 
had  suspicions  of  what  was  going  on,  and,  in  duty  to  his 
master,  had  carefully  watched  the  proceedings,  and  given 
notice  to  others  of  what  he  had  discovered  from  time  to 
time.  The  lad  was  the  chief  evidence  against  the  prisoner 
Fleming,  and  also  against  Marables,  the  other  prisoner,  of 
whom  he  could  only  observe,  that  circumstances  would 
transpire,  during  the  trial,  in  his  favour,  which  he  had  no 
doubt  would  be  well  considered  by  his  lordship.  He 
would  not  detain  the  gentlemen  of  the  jury  any  longer,  but 
at  once  call  on  his  witnesses. 

I  was  then  summoned,  again  asked  the  same  questions 
as  to  the  nature  of  an  oath,  and  the  judge  being  satisfied 
v/ith  my  replies,  I  gave  my  evidence  as  before  ;  the  judge, 
as  I  perceived,  carefully  examining  my  previous  deposition, 
to  ascertain  if  anything  I  now  said  was  at  variance  with 
my  former  assertions.  I  was  then  cross-examined  by  the 
counsel  for  Fleming,  but  he  could  not  make  me  vary  in 
my  evidence.  I  did,  however,  take  the  opportunity,  when- 
ever I  was  able,  of  saying  all  I  could  in  favour  of  Marables. 
At  last  the  counsel  said  he  would  ask  me  no  more  ques- 
tions. I  was  dismissed ;  and  the  police-officer  who  had 
picked  me  up,  and  other  parties  who  identified  the  various 
property  as  their  own,  and  the  manner  in  which  they  had 


Jacob  Faithful  89 

been  robbed  of  it,  were  examined.  The  evidence  was  too 
clear  to  admit  of  doubt.  The  jury  immediately  returned 
a  verdict  of  guilty  against  Fleming  and  Marables,  but 
strongly  recommended  Marables  to  the  mercy  of  the 
crown.  The  judge  rose,  put  on  his  black  cap,  and 
addressed  the  prisoners  as  follows.  The  court  was  so 
still,  that  a  pin  falling  might  have  been  heard : 

"  You,  William  Fleming,  have  been  tried  by  a  jury  of 
your  countrymen,  upon  the  charge  of  receiving  stolen 
goods,  to  which  you  have  added  the  most  atrocious  crime 
of  intended  murder.  You  have  had  a  fair  and  impartial 
trial,  and  have  been  found  guilty  ;  and  it  appears  that, 
even  had  you  escaped  in  this  instance,  other  charges, 
equally  heavy,  and  which  would  equally  consign  you  to 
condign  punishment,  were  in  readiness  to  be  preferred 
against  you.  Your  life  has  been  one  of  guilt,  not  only 
in  your  own  person,  but  also  in  abetting  and  stimulating 
others  to  crime  ;  and  you  have  wound  up  your  shameful 
career  by  attempting  the  life  of  a  fellow-creature.  To 
hold  out  to  you  any  hope  of  mercy  is  impossible.  Your 
life  is  justly  forfeited  to  the  offended  laws  of  your  country  ; 
and  your  sentence  is  that  you  be  removed  from  this  court 
to  the  place  from  whence  you  came,  and  from  thence  to 
the  place  of  execution,  there  to  be  hanged  by  the  neck  till 
you  are  dead ;  and  may  God,  in  his  infinite  goodness,  have 
mercy  on  your  soul ! 

"  You,  John  Marables,  have  pleaded  guilty  to  the 
charges  brought  against  you  ;  and  it  has  appeared,  during 
the  evidence  brought  out  on  the  trial,  that,  although  you 
have  been  a  party  to  these  nefarious  transactions,  you  are 
far  from  being  hardened  in  your  guilt."  [  "  No,  no  !  " 
exclaimed  Marables.]  "  I  believe  sincerely  that  you  are 
not,  and  much  regret  that  one  who,  from  the  evidence 
brought  forward,  appears  to  have  been,  previously  to  this 
unfortunate  connection,  an  honest  man,  should  now  appear 
in  so  disgraceful  a  situation.  A  severe  punishment  is, 
however,  demanded  by  the  voice  of  justice,  and  by  that 
sentence  of  the  law  you  must  now  be  condemned :  at  the 


90  Jacob  Faithful 

same  time  I  trust  that  an  appeal  to  the  mercy  of  your 
sovereign  will  not  be  made  in  vain." 

The  judge  then  passed  the  sentence  upon  Marables,  the 
prisoners  were  led  out  of  court,  and  a  new  trial  commenced  ; 
while  Mr  Drummond  and  the  Domine  conducted  me  home. 
About  a  week  after  the  trial,  Fleming  suffered  the  penalty 
of  the  law  ;  while  Marables  was  sentenced  to  transportation 
for  life,  which,  however,  previous  to  his  sailing,  was  com- 
muted to  seven  years. 

In  a  few  days  the  lighter  returned.  Her  arrival  was 
announced  to  me  one  fine  sunny  morning,  as  I  lay  in  bed, 
by  a  voice,  whose  well-known  notes  poured  into  my  ear, 
as  I  was  half-dozing  on  my  pillow  : 

"  Bright  are  the  beams  of  the  morning  sky, 
And  sweet  the  dew  the  red  blossoms  sip, 
But  brighter  the  glances  of  dear  woman's  eye  — 

"  Tom,  you  monkey,  belay  the  warp,  and  throw  the 
fenders  over  the  side.  Be  smart,  or  old  Fuzzle  will  be 
growling  about  his  red  paint. 

"  And  sweet  is  the  dew  on  her  lip." 

I  jumped  out  of  my  little  crib,  threw  open  the  window, 
the  panes  of  which  were  crystallised  with  the  frost  in  the 
form  of  little  trees,  and  beheld  the  lighter  just  made  fast 
to  the  wharf,  the  sun  shining  brightly,  old  Tom's  face  as 
cheerful  as  the  morn,  and  young  Tom  laughing,  jumping 
about  and  blowing  his  fingers.  I  was  soon  dressed,  and 
shaking  hands  with  my  bargemates. 

*•  Well,  Jacob,  how  do  you  like  the  Old  Bailey  ?  Never 
was  in  it  but  once  in  my  life,  and  never  mean  to  go  again  if 
I  can  help  it  ;  that  was  when  Sam  Bowles  was  tried  for  his 
life,  but  my  evidence  saved  him.  I'll  tell  you  how  it  was. 
Tom,  look  a'ter  the  breakfast  j  a  bowl  of  tea  this  cold 
morning  will  be  worth  having.     Come,  jump  about," 

"  But  I  never  heard  the  story  of  Sam  Bowles,"  answered 
Tom. 

"  What's  that  to  you  ?     I'm  telling  it  to  Jacob." 


Jacob  Faithful  91 

**  But  I  want  to  hear  it — so  go  on,  father.  I'll  start 
you.     Well,  d'ye  see,  Sam  Bowles " 

"  Master  Tom,  them  as  play  with  bowls  may  meet  with 
rubbers.  Take  care  I  don't  rub  down  your  hide.  Off,  you 
thief,  and  get  breakfast." 

"No,  I  won't:  if  I  don't  have  your  Botules,  you  shall 
have  no  boivls  of  tea.     I've  made  my  mind  up  to  that." 

*'  I  tell  you  what,  Tom  ;  I  shall  never  get  any  good  out 
of  you  until  I  have  both  your  legs  ampitated.  I've  a  great 
mind  to  send  for  the  farrier." 

"  Thanky,  father  j  but  I  find  them  very  useful." 

"  Well,"  said  I,  "  suppose  we  put  oiF  the  story  till  break- 
fast time,  and  I'll  go  and  help  Tom  to  get  it  ready." 

"  Be  it  so,  Jacob.  I  suppose  Tom  must  have  his  way, 
as  I  spoiled  him  myself.  I  made  him  so  fond  of  yarns,  so 
I  was  a  fool  to  be  vexed. 

"  Oh  life  is  a  river,  and  man  is  the  boat 

That  over  its  surface  is  destined  to  float ; 
And  joy  is  a  cargo  so  easily  stored, 

That  he  is  a  fool  who  takes  sorrow  on  board." 

'*  Now  I'll  go  on  shore  to  master,  and  find  out  what's 
to  be  done  next.  Give  me  my  stick,  boy,  and  I  shall  crawl 
over  the  planks  a  little  safer.  A  safe  stool  must  have  three 
legs,  you  know." 

Old  Tom  then  stumped  away  on  shore.  In  about  a 
quarter  of  an  hour  he  returned,  bringing  half  a  dozen  red 
herrings.  "  Here,  Tom,  grill  these  sodgers.  Jacob,  who 
is  that  tall  old  chap,  with  such  a  devil  of  a  cutwater,  that 
I  met  just  now  with  master  ?  We  are  bound  for  Sheerness 
this  trip,  and  I'm  to  land  him  at  Greenwich." 

"What,  the  Domine?"  replied  I,  from  old  Tom's 
description. 

"  His  name  did  begin  with  a  D,  but  that  wasn't  it." 

"  Dobbs  ? " 

**  Yes,  that's  nearer ;  he's  to  be  a  passenger  on  board 
of  us,  going  down  to  see  a  friend  who's  very  ill.  Now, 
Tom,  my  hearty,  bring  out  the  crockery,  for  I  want  a 
little  inside  lining." 


92  Jacob  Faithful 

We  all  sat  down  to  our  breakfast,  and  as  soon  as  old 
Tom  had  finished,  his  son  called  for  the  history  of  Sam 
Bowles. 

"  Well,  now  you  shall  have  it.  Sam  Bowles  was  a 
shipmate  of  mine  on  board  of  the  Greenlandman ;  he  was 
one  of  our  best  harpooners,  and  a  good  quiet,  honest 
messmate,  as  ever  slung  a  hammock.  He  was  spliced  to 
as  pretty  a  piece  of  flesh  as  ever  was  seen,  but  she  wasn't 
as  good  as  she  was  pretty.  We  were  fitting  out  for 
another  voyage,  and  his  wife  had  been  living  on  board 
with  him  some  weeks,  for  Sam  was  devilish  spoony  on 
her,  and  couldn't  bear  her  to  be  out  of  his  sight.  As  we 
'spected  to  sail  in  a  few  days,  we  were  filling  up  our 
complement  of  men,  and  fresh  hands  came  on  board  every 
day. 

"  One  morning,  a  fine  tall  fellow,  with  a  tail  as  thick 
as  a  hawser,  came  on  board  and  offered  himself;  he  was 
taken  by  the  skipper,  and  went  on  shore  again  to  get 
his  traps.  While  he  was  still  on  deck  I  went  below,  and 
seeing  Sam  with  his  little  wife  on  his  knee  playing  with 
his  love-locks,  I  said  that  there  was  a  famous  stout  and 
good-looking  fellow  that  we  should  have  as  a  shipmate. 
Sam's  wife,  who,  like  all  women,  was  a  little  curious, 
put  her  head  up  the  hatchway  to  look  at  him.  She  put 
it  down  again  very  quick,  as  I  thought,  and  made  some 
excuse  to  go  forward  in  the  eyes  of  her,  where  she  re- 
mained some  time,  and  then,  when  she  came  aft,  told 
Sam  that  she  would  go  on  shore.  Now,  as  it  had  been 
agreed  that  she  should  remain  on  board  till  we  were  clear 
of  the  river,  Sam  couldn't  think  what  the  matter  was  ; 
but  she  was  positive,  and  go  away  she  did,  very  much 
to  Sam's  astonishment  and  anger.  In  the  evening,  Sam 
went  on  shore  and  found  her  out,  and  what  d'ye  think 
the  little  Jezebel  told  him  ? — why,  that  one  of  the  men 
had  been  rude  to  her  when  she  went  forward,  and  that's 
why  she  wouldn't  stay  on  board.  Sam  was  in  a  devil 
of  a  passion  at  this,  and  wanted  to  know  which  was  the 
man  ;  but  she  fondled  him,  and  wouldn't  tell  him,  because 


Jacob  Faithful  93 

she  was  afraid  that  he'd  be  hurt.  At  last  she  bamboozled 
him,  and  sent  him  on  board  again  quite  content.  Well, 
we  remained  three  days  longer,  and  then  dropped  down 
the  river  to  Greenwich,  where  the  captain  was  to  come 
on  board,  and  we  were  to  sail  as  soon  as  the  wind  was 
fair.  Now,  this  fine  tall  fellow  was  with  us  when  we 
dropped  down  the  river,  and  as  Sam  was  sitting  down 
on  his  chest  eating  a  basin  o'  soup,  the  other  man  takes 
out  a  'baccy  pouch  of  seal-skin  ; — it  was  a  very  curious 
one,  made  out  of  the  white  and  spotted  part  of  a  young 
seal's  belly.  *  I  say,  shipmate,'  cries  Sam,  '  hand  me  over 
my  'baccy  pouch.     Where  did  you  pick  it  up  ?  " 

"  '  Your  pouch  ! '  says  he  to  him  ;  *  I  killed  the  seal,  and 
my  fancy  girl  made  the  pouch  for  me.' 

"  *  Well,  if  that  arn't  cool !  you'd  swear  a  man  out 
of  his  life,  mate.  Tom,'  says  he  to  me,  '  arn't  that  my 
pouch  which  my  wife  gave  me  when  I  came  back  last 
trip  ? ' 

"  I  looked  at  it,  and  knew  it  again,  and  said  it  was. 
The  tall  fellow  denied  it,  and  there  was  a  devil  of  a 
bobbery.  Sam  called  him  a  thief,  and  he  pitched  Sam 
right  down  the  main  hatchway  among  the  casks.  After 
that  there  was  a  regular  set-to,  and  Sam  was  knocked 
all  to  shivers,  and  obliged  to  give  in.  When  the  fight 
was  over,  I  took  up  Sam's  shirt  for  him  to  put  on. 
*  That's  my  shirt,'  cried  the  tall  fellow. 

"  *  That's  Sam's  shirt,'  replied  I ;  '  I  know  it's  his.' 
"  *  I  tell  you  it's  mine,'  replied  the  man ;  *  my  lass  gave 
it  to  me  to  put  on  when  I  got  up  this  morning.     The 
other  is  his  shirt.' 

**  We  looked  at  the  other,  and  they,  both  were  Sam's 
shirts.  Now  when  Sam  heard  this,  he  put  two  and  two 
together,  and  became  very  jealous  and  uneasy  :  he  thought 
it  odd  that  his  wife  was  so  anxious  to  leave  the  ship 
when  this  tall  fellow  came  on  board  ;  and  what  with  the 
pouch  and  the  shirt,  he  was  puzzled.  His  wife  had 
promised  to  come  down  to  Greenwich  and  see  him  off. 
When  we  anchored,  some  of  the  men  went  on  shore — 


94  Jacob  Faithful 

among  others  the  tall  fellow.  Sam,  whose  head  was 
swelled  up  like  a  pumpkin,  told  one  of  his  shipmates  to 
say  to  his  wife  that  he  could  not  come  on  shore,  and  that 
she  must  come  off  to  him.  Well,  it  was  about  nine  o'clock, 
dark,  and  all  the  stars  were  twinkling,  when  Sam  says  to 
me,  *  Tom,  let's  go  on  shore ;  my  black  eyes  can't  be  seen 
in  the  dark.'  As  we  hauled  up  the  boat,  the  second  mate 
told  Sam  to  take  his  harpoon  iron  on  shore  for  him,  to 
have  the  hole  for  the  becket  punched  larger.  Away  we 
went,  and  the  first  place,  of  course,  that  Sam  went  to,  was 
the  house  were  he  knew  that  his  wife  put  up  at,  as  before. 
He  went  upstairs  to  her  room,  and  I  followed  him.  The 
door  was  not  made  fast,  and  in  we  went.  There  was  his 
little  devil  of  a  wife,  fast  asleep  in  the  arms  of  the  tall  fellow. 
Sam  couldn't  command  his  rage,  and  having  the  harpoon 
iron  in  his  hand,  he  drove  it  right  through  the  tall  fellow's 
body,  before  I  could  prevent  him.  It  was  a  dreadful  sight : 
the  man  groaned,  and  his  head  fell  over  the  side  of  the 
bed.  Sam's  wife  screamed,  and  made  Sam  more  wroth  by 
throwing  herself  on  the  man's  body,  and  weeping  over  it. 
Sam  would  have  pulled  out  the  iron  to  run  her  through 
with,  but  that  was  impossible.  The  noise  brought  up  the 
people  of  the  house,  and  it  was  soon  known  that  murder 
had  been  committed.  The  constables  came,  Sam  was 
thrown  into  prison,  and  I  went  on  board  and  told  the 
whole  story.  Well,  we  were  just  about  to  heave  up,  for 
we  had  shipped  two  more  men  in  place  of  Sam,  who  was 
to  be  tried  for  his  life,  and  the  poor  fellow  he  had  killed, 
when  a  lawyer  chap  came  on  board  with  what  they  call  a 
siippeny  for  me  ;  all  I  know  is,  that  the  lawyer  pressed  me 
into  his  service,  and  I  lost  my  voyage.  I  was  taken  on 
shore,  and  well  fed  till  the  trial  came  on.  Poor  Sam  was 
at  the  bar  for  murder.  The  gentleman  in  his  gown  and 
wig  began  his  yarn,  stating  that  how  the  late  fellow,  whose 
name  was  Will  Errol,  was  with  his  own  wife  when  Sam 
harpooned  him. 

"  '  That's  a  lie  ! '  cried  Sam  ;  *  he  was  with  my  wife.* 
*'  *  My  lord,'  said  the  lawyer,  '  that  is  not  the  case  j  it 


Jacob  Faithful  95 

was  his  own  wife,  and  here  are  the  marriage  certifi- 
cates.' 

"  '  False  papers  ! '  roared  Sam.  *  Here  are  mine  ; '  and 
he  pulled  out  his  tin  case,  and  handed  them  to  the 
court. 

"  The  judge  said  that  this  was  not  the  way  to  try- 
people,  and  that  Sam  must  hold  his  tongue ;  so  the  trial 
went  on,  and  at  first  they  had  it  all  their  own  way.  Then 
our  turn  came,  and  I  was  called  up  to  prove  what  had 
passed,  and  I  stated  how  the  man  was  with  Sam's  wife, 
and  how  he,  having  the  harpoon  iron  in  his  hand,  had  run 
it  through  his  body.  Then  they  compared  the  certificates, 
and  it  was  proved  that  the  little  Jezebel  had  married  them 
both ;  but  she  had  married  Sam  first,  so  he  had  the  most 
right  to  her  j  but  fancying  the  other  man  afterwards,  she 
thought  she  might  as  well  have  two  strings  to  her  bow. 
So  the  judge  declared  that  she  was  Sam's  wife,  and  that 
any  man,  even  without  the  harpoon  in  his  hand,  would  be 
justified  in  killing  a  man  whom  he  found  in  bed  with  his 
own  wife.  So  Sam  went  scot  free  ;  but  the  judge  wouldn't 
let  off  Sam's  wife,  as  she  had  caused  murder  by  her  wicked 
conduct ;  he  tried  her  a'terwards  for  biggery,  as  they  call 
it,  and  sent  her  over  the  water  for  life.  Sam  never  held 
up  his  head  a'terwards  ;  what  with  having  killed  an  innocent 
man,  and  the  'haviour  of  his  wife,  he  was  always  down.  He 
went  out  to  the  fishery,  and  a  whale  cut  the  boat  in  two  with 
her  tail ;  Sam  was  stunned,  and  went  down  like  a  stone. 
So  you  see  the  mischief  brought  about  by  this  little  Jezebel, 
who  must  have  two  husbands,  and  be  d d  to  her." 

"  Well,  that's  a  good  yarn,  father,"  said  Tom,  as  soon 
as  it  was  finished.  "  I  was  right  in  saying  I  would  hear 
it.     Wasn't  I  ?  " 

"  No,"  rephed  old  Tom,  putting  out  his  large  hand,  and 
seizing  his  son  by  the  collar ;  "  and  now  you've  put  me  in 
mind  of  it,  I'll  pay  you  off  for  old  scores." 

"  Lord  love  you,  father,  you  don't  owe  me  any  thing," 
said  Tom. 

"  Yes,  I  do  J  and  now  I'll  give  you  a  receipt  in  full." 


96  Jacob  Faithful 

'*  O  Lord  !  they'll  be  drowned,"  screamed  Tom,  holding 
up  both  his  hands  with  every  symptom  of  terror. 

Old  Tom  turned  short  round  to  look  in  the  direction, 
letting  go  his  hold.  Tom  made  his  escape,  and  burst  out 
a-laughing.     I  laughed  also,  and  so  at  last  did  his  father. 

I  went  on  shore,  and  found  that  old  Tom's  report  was 
correct — the  Domine  was  at  breakfast  with  Mr  Drummond. 
The  new  usher  had  charge  of  the  boys,  and  the  governors 
had  allowed  him  a  fortnight's  holiday  to  visit  an  old  friend 
at  Greenwich.  To  save  expense,  as  well  as  to  indulge  his 
curiosity,  the  old  man  had  obtained  a  passage  down  in  the 
lighter.  "  Never  yet,  Jacob,  have  I  put  my  feet  into  that 
■which  floateth  on  the  watery  element,"  observed  he  to  me ; 
"nor  would  I  now,  but  that  it  saveth  money,  which  thou 
knowest  well  is  with  me  not  plentiful.  Many  dangers  I 
expect,  many  perils  shall  I  encounter  ;  such  have  I  read  of 
in  books  ;  and  well  might  Horace  exclaim — '  ////'  robur  et 
as  triplex,^  with  reference  to  the  first  man  who  ventured 
afloat.  Still  doth  Mr  Drummond  assure  me  that  the 
lighter  is  of  that  strength  as  to  be  able  to  resist  the  force 
of  the  winds  and  waves  j  and,  confiding  in  Providence,  I 
intend  to  venture,  Jacob,  *  te  duce^  " 

"  Nay,  sir,"  replied  I,  laughing  at  the  idea  which  the 
Domine  appeared  to  have  formed  of  the  dangers  of  river 
navigation,  "  old  Tom  is  the  Dux^^ 

"Old  Tom  J  where  have  I  seen  that  name?  Now  I 
do  recall  to  mind  that  I  have  seen  the  name  painted  in 
large  letters  upon  a  cask  at  the  tavern  bar  of  the  inn  at 
Brentford  ;  but  what  it  did  intend  to  signify,  I  did  not 
inquire.     What  connection  is  there  ? " 

'*  None,"  replied  I ;  "  but  I  rather  think  they  are  very 
good  friends.  The  tide  turns  in  half  an  hour,  sir  ;  are 
you  ready  to  go  on  board  ? " 

"  Truly  am  I,  and  well  prepared,  having  my  habiliments 
in  a  bundle,  my  umbrella  and  my  great-coat,  as  well  as  my 
spencer  for  general  wear.  But  where  I  am  to  sleep  hath 
not  yet  been  made  known  to  me.  Peradventure  one 
sleepeth  not — '  tantum   in  periculoJ'  " 


Jacob  Faithful  97 

"  Yes,  sir,  we  do.  You  shall  have  my  berth,  and  I'll 
turn  in  with  young  Tom." 

**  Hast  thou,  then,  a  young  Tom  as  well  as  an  old  Tom 
on  board .'' " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  and  a  dog,  also  of  the  name  of  Tommy." 

"  Well,  then,  we  will  embark,  and  thou  shalt  make  me 
known  to  this  triad  of  Thomases.  *  Inde  Tomos  dictus  locus 
est.'    {Cluck,  cluck.)     Ovid,  I  thank  thee." 


Chapter  XI 

Much  learning  afloat — Young  Tom  is  very  lively  upon  the  dead  languages 
— The  Domine,  after  experiencing  the  wonders  of  the  mighty  deep, 
prepares  to  revel  upon  lobscouse — Though  the  man  of  learning  gets  many 
songs  and  some  yarns  from  Old  Tom,  he  loses  the  best  part  of  a  tale  with- 
out knowing  it. 

The  old  Domine's  bundle  and  other  paraphernalia  being 
sent  on  board,  he  took  farewell  of  Mr  Drummond  and  his 
family  in  so  serious  a  manner,  that  I  was  convinced  that 
he  considered  he  was  about  to  enter  upon  a  dangerous 
adventure,  and  then  I  led  him  down  to  the  wharf  where 
the  lighter  lay  alongside.  It  was  with  some  trepidation 
that  he  crossed  the  plank,  and  got  on  board,  when  he 
recovered  himself  and  looked  round. 

"  My  sarvice  to  you,  old  gentleman,"  said  a  voice  behind 
the  Domine.  It  was  that  of  old  Tom,  who  had  just  come 
from  the  cabin.  The  Domine  turned  round  and  perceived 
old  Tom. 

"  This  is  old  Tom,  sir,"  said  I  to  the  Domine,  who 
stared  with  astonishment. 

**  Art  thou,  indeed  ?  Jacob,  thou  didst  not  tell  me  that 
he  had  been  curtailed  of  his  fair  proportions,  and  I  was 
surprised.  Art  thou  then  Dux  ? "  continued  the  Domine, 
addressing  old  Tom. 

♦•  Yes,"  interrupted  young  Tom,  who  had  come  from 

J.F.  G 


98  Jacob  Faithful 

forward,  "he  is  duchsj  because  he  waddles  on  his  short 
stumps  ;  and  I  won't  say  who  be  goose.     Eh,  father  ?  " 

"  Take  care  you  don't  buy  goose^  for  your  imperance, 
sir,"  cried  old  Tom. 

"  A  forward  boy,"  exclaimed  the  Domine. 

"  Yes,"  replied  Tom  ;  "  I'm  generally  forward." 

"  Art  thou  forward  in  thy  learning  ?  Canst  thou  tell 
me  Latin  for  goose  ?  " 

"  To  be  sure,"  replied  Tom  ;  "  Brandy." 

"  Brandy  !  "  exclaimed  the  Domine.  "  Nay,  child,  it  is 
anserP 

**  Then  I  was  right,"  replied  Tom.  **  You  had  your 
ansiuer  I " 

"  The  boy  is  apt."     (Cluck,  cluck.) 

"  He  is  apt  to  be  devilish  saucy,  old  gentleman  ;  but 
never  mind  that,  there's  no  harm  in  him." 

"  This,  then,  is  young  Tom,  I  presume,  Jacob  ? "  said 
the  Domine,  referring  to  me. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I.  "  You  have  seen  old  Tom,  and 
young  Tom,  and  you  have  only  to  see  Tommy." 

"Want  to  see  Tommy,  sir?"  cried  Tom.  "Here, 
Tommy,  Tommy !  " 

But  Tommy,  who  was  rather  busy  with  a  bone  forward, 
did  not  immediately  answer  to  his  call,  and  the  Domine 
turned  round  to  survey  the  river.  The  scene  was  busy, 
barges  and  boats  passing  in  every  direction,  others  lying 
on  shore,  with  waggons  taking  out  the  coals  and  other 
cargoes,  men  at  work,  shouting  or  laughing  with  each 
other.  "  '  Populus  in  jluviis^  as  Virgil  hath  it.  Grand 
indeed  is  the  vast  river,  *  Lahitur  et  labetur  in  omne  volubilis 
avum,^  as  the  generations  of  men  are  swept  into  eternity/' 
said  the  Domine,  musing  aloud.  But  Tommy  had  now 
made  his  appearance,  and  Tom,  in  his  mischief,  had  laid 
hold  of  the  tail  of  the  Domine's  coat,  and  shown  it  to 
the  dog.  The  dog,  accustomed  to  seize  a  rope  when  it 
was  shown  to  him,  immediately  seized  the  Domine's  coat, 
making  three  desperate  tugs  at  it.  The  Domine,  who  was 
in  one  of  his  reveries,  and  probably  thought  it  was  I,  who 


Jacob  Faithful  99 

wished  to  direct  his  attention  elsewhere,  each  time  waved 
his  hand,  without  turning  round,  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I  am 
busy  now." 

"Haul  and  hold,"  cried  Tom  to  the  dog,  splitting  his 
sides  and  the  tears  running  down  his  cheeks  with  laughing. 
Tommy  made  one  more  desperate  tug,  carrying  away  one 
tail  of  the  Domine's  coat ;  but  the  Domine  perceived  it  not, 
he  was  still  '*  in  nubibus"  while  the  dog  galloped  forward 
with  the  fragment,  and  Tom  chased  him  to  recover  it. 
The  Domine  continued  in  his  reverie,  when  old  Tom 
burst  out — 

"  O  England,  dear  England,  bright  gem  of  the  ocean, 
Thy  valleys  and  fields  look  fertile  and  gay, 
The  heart  clings  to  thee  with  a  sacred  devotion, 
And  memory  adores  when  in  far  lands  away." 

The  song  gradually  called  the  Domine  to  his  recollec- 
tion ;  indeed,  the  strain  was  so  beautiful,  that  it  would 
have  vibrated  in  the  ears  of  a  dying  man.  The  Domine 
gradually  turned  round,  and  when  old  Tom  had  finished, 
exclaimed,  **  Truly  it  did  delight  mine  ear,  and  from  such 

and,"  continued  the  Domine,  looking  down  upon  old 

Tom — "  without  legs  too  !  " 

"Why,  old  gentleman,  I  don't  sing  with  my  legs,^^ 
answered  old  Tom. 

"  Nay,  good  Dux^  I  am  not  so  deficient  as  not  to  be 
aware  that  a  man  singeth  from  the  mouth ;  yet  is  thy  voice 
mellifluous,  sweet  as  the  honey  of  Hybla,  strong " 

"  As  the  Latin  for  goose,"  finished  Tom.  "  Come, 
father,  old  Dictionary  is  in  the  doldrums  j  rouse  him  up 
with  another  stave." 

**  I'll  rouse  you  up  with  the  stave  of  a  cask  over  your 
shoulders,  Mr  Tom.  What  have  you  done  with  the  old 
gentleman's  swallow-tail  ? " 

"  Leave  me  to  settle  that  affair,  father ;  I  know  how  to 
get  out  of  a  scrape." 

*'  So  you  ought,  you  scamp,  considering  how  many  j'ou 
get  into  i   but   the   craft  are   swinging  and   heaving   up. 


lOO  Jacob  Faithful 

Forward  there,  Jacob,  and  sway  up  the  mast ;  there's 
Tom  and  Tommy  to  help  you." 

The  mast  was  hoisted  up,  the  sail  set,  and  the  lighter  in 
the  stream,  before  the  Domine  was  out  of  his  reverie. 

**  Are  there  whirlpools  here  .'' "  said  the  Domine,  talking 
more  to  himself  than  to  those  about  him. 

**  Whirlpools  !  "  replied  young  Tom,  who  was  watching 
and  mocking  him;  "yes,  that  there  are,  under  the  bridges. 
I've  watched  a  dozen  chips  go  down  one  after  the  other." 

"  A  dozen  sJiips !  "  exclaimed  the  Domine,  turning  to 
Tom  ;  "  and  every  soul  lost  ? " 

**  Never  saw  them  afterwards,"  replied  Tom,  in  a 
mournful  voice. 

"  How  little  did  I  dream  of  the  dangers  of  those  so  near 
me,"  said  the  Domine,  turning  away,  and  communing  with 
himself.  "  'Those  who  go  down  to  the  sea  in  ships,  and 
occupy  their  business  in  great  waters  j ' — *  Et  vastus  aper'tt 
Syrtes ; ' — *  These  men  see  the  works  of  the  Lord,  and  his 
wonders  in  the  deep.' — *  Altertiante  vorans  vasta  Charybdis 
aqua^ — *  For  at  his  word  the  stormy  wind  ariseth,  which 
lifteth  up  the  waves  thereof.' — '  Surgens  a  puppi  ventus. — 
Ubi  tempestas  et  call  mobilis  humor^ — *  They  are  carried  up 
to  the  heavens,  and  down  again  to  the  deep.' — '  Gurgitibus 
mtris  et  lactis  vertice  torrens^ — *  Their  soul  melteth  away 
because  of  their  trouble.' — *  Stant  pavidi.  Omnibus  ignota 
mortis  timor,  omnibus  hostem^ — *  They  reel  to  and  fro,  and 
stagger  like  a  drunken  man.' " 

"  So  they  do,  father,  don't  they,  sometimes  ?  "  observed 
Tom,  leering  his  eye  at  his  father.  "That's  all  I've  under- 
stood of  his  speech." 

*'  They  are  at  their  wit's  end,"  continued  the  Domine. 

**  Mind  the  end  of  your  wit,  master  Tom,"  answered  his 
father,  wroth  at  the  insinuation. 

"  '  So  when  they  call  upon  the  Lord  in  their  trouble' — 
*  Cujus  jurare  timent  et  fall  ere  nomen'' — '  He  delivereth  them 
out  of  their  distress,  for  he  maketh  the  storm  to  cease,  so 
that  the  waves  thereof  are  still  j '  yea,  still  and  smooth  as 
the  peaceful   water   which  now   floweth  rapidly  by  our 


Jacob  Faithful  loi 

anchored  vessel — yet  it  appeareth  to  me  that  the  scene 
hath  changed.  These  fields  met  not  mine  eye  before. 
^  Riparumque  toros  et  prata  recentta  rivis.'  Surely  we  have 
moved  from  the  wharf" — and  the  Domine  turned  round, 
and  discovered,  for  the  first  time,  that  we  were  more  than 
a  mile  from  the  place  at  which  we  had  embarked. 

"Pray,  sir,  what's  the  use  of  speech,  sir  ?"  interrogated 
Tom,  who  had  been  listening  to  the  whole  of  the  Domine's 
long  sohloquy. 

"  Thou  asked  a  foolish  question,  boy.  We  are  en- 
dowed with  the  power  of  speech  to  enable  us  to  com- 
municate our  ideas." 

"  That's  exactly  what  I  thought,  sir.  Then  pray  what's 
the  use  of  your  talking  all  that  gibberish,  that  none  of  us 
could  understand  ? " 

"  I  crave  thy  pardon,  child ;  I  spoke,  I  presume,  in  the 
dead  languages." 

"  If  they're  dead,  why  not  let  them  rest  in  their 
graves  ? " 

'*  Good :  thou  hast  wit.  {Cluck,  cluck.)  Yet,  child, 
know  that  it  is  pleasant  to  commune  with  the  dead." 

"  Is  it  ?  then  we'll  put  you  on  shore  at  Battersea 
churchyard." 

"  Silence,  Tom.  He's  full  of  his  sauce,  sir — you  must 
forgive  it." 

"  Nay,  it  pleaseth  me  to  hear  him  talk ;  but  it  would 
please  me  more  to  hear  thee  sing." 

"  Then  here  goes,  sir,  to  drown  Tom's  impudence. 

"  Glide  on  my  bark,  the  morning  tide 
Is  gently  floating  by  thy  side ; 
Around  thy  prow  the  waters  bright, 
In  circling  rounds  of  broken  light, 
Are  glittering,  as  if  ocean  gave 
Her  countless  gems  unto  the  wave. 

That's  a  pretty  air,  and  I  first  heard  it  sung  by  a  pretty 
woman ;  but  that's  all  I  know  of  the  song.  She  sang 
another — 

«<  I'd  be  a  butterfly,  born  in  a  bower.'" 


I02  Jacob  Faithful 

"  You'd  be  a  butterfly,"  said  the  Domine,  taking  old 
Tom  literally,  and  looking  at  his  person. 

Young  Tom  roared,  "  Yes,  sir,  he'd  be  a  butterfly, 
and  I  don't  see  why  he  shouldn't  very  soon.  His  legs 
are  gone,  and  his  wings  aren't  come ;  so  he's  a  grub  now, 
and  that,  you  know,  is  the  next  thing  to  it.  What  a 
funny  old  beggar  it  is,  father — aren't  it  ? " 

"  Tom,  Tom,  go  forward,  sir ;  we  must  shoot  the  bridge." 

"  Shoot !  "  exclaimed  the  Domine  j  **  shoot  what  ?  " 

**  You  aren't  afraid  of  fire-arms,  are  ye,  sir  ?  "  inquired 
Tom. 

"  Nay,  I  said  not  that  I  was  afraid  of  fire-arms ;  but 
why  should  you  shoot  ?  " 

**  We  never  could  get  on  without  it,  sir ;  we  shall  have 
plenty  of  shooting,  by-and-bye.  You  don't  know  this 
river." 

"  Indeed,  I  thought  not  of  such  doings ;  or  that  there 
were  other  dangers  besides  that  of  the  deep  waters." 

"  Go  forward,  Tom,  and  don't  be  playing  with  your 
betters,"  cried  old  Tom.  "  Never  mind  him,  sir,  he's 
only  humbugging  you." 

•'  Explain,  Jacob.  The  language  of  both  old  Tom  and 
young  Tom  are  to  me  as  incomprehensible  as  would  be 
that  of  the  dog  Tommy." 

"Or  as  your  Latin  is  to  them,  sir." 

"  True,  Jacob,  true.  I  have  no  right  to  complain ; 
nay,  I  do  not  complain,  for  I  am  amused,  although  at 
times  much  puzzled." 

We  now  shot  Putney  Bridge,  and  as  a  wherry  passed 
us,  old  Tom  carolled  out — 

"  Did  you  ever  hear  tell  of  a  jolly  young  waterman  ?  " 

"No,  I  never  did,"  said  the  Domine,  observing  old 
Tom's  eyes  directed  toward  him.  Tom,  amused  by  this 
naivete  on  the  part  of  the  Domine,  touched  him  by  the 
sleeve,  on  the  other  side,  and  commenced  with  his  treble : 

*'  Did  you  ne'er  hear  a  tale 
Of  a  maid  in  the  vale?  " 


Jacob  Faithful  103 

"Not  that  I  can  recollect,  my  cliild,"  replied  the 
Domine. 

**  Then,  where  have  you  been  all  your  life  ?  " 

"  My  life  has  been  employed,  my  lad,  in  teaching  the 
young  idea  how  to  shoot." 

•*  So,  you're  an  old  soldier,  after  all,  and  afraid  of  fire- 
arms. Why  don't  you  hold  yourself  up .''  I  suppose  it's 
that  enormous  jib  of  yours  that  brings  you  down  by  the 
head." 

"  Tom,  Tom,  I'll  cut  you  into  pork  pieces,  if  you  go 
on  that  gait.  Go  and  get  dinner  under  weigh,  you  scamp, 
and  leave  the  gentleman  alone.    Here's  more  wind  coming. 

"  A  wet  sheet  and  a  flowing  sea, 

A  wind  that  follows  fast. 
And  fills  the  white  and  rustling  sail, 

And  bends  the  gallant  mast. 
And  bends  the  gallant  mast,  my  boys, 

While,  like  the  eagle  free, 
Away  the  good  ship  flies,  and  leaves 

Old  England  on  the  lee," 

**  Jacob,"  said  the  Domine,  "  I  have  heard  by  the  mouth 
of  Rumour,  with  her  hundred  tongues,  how  careless  and 
indifferent  are  sailors  unto  danger ;  but  I  never  could  have 
believed  that  such  lightness  of  heart  could  have  been 
shown.  Yon  man,  although  certainly  not  in  years,  yet, 
what  is  he  ? — a  remnant  of  a  man  resting  upon  unnatural 
and  ill-proportioned  support.  Yon  lad,  who  is  yet  but  a 
child,  appears  as  blythe  and  merry  as  if  he  were  in  posses- 
sion of  all  this  world  can  afford.  I  have  an  affection  for 
that  bold  child,  and  would  fain  teach  him  the  rudiments, 
at  least,  of  the  Latin  tongue." 

**  I  doubt  if  Tom  would  ever  learn  them,  sir.  He  has  a 
will  of  his  own." 

"  It  grieveth  me  to  hear  thee  say  so,  for  he  lacketh  not 
talent,  but  instruction ;  and  the  Dux,  he  pleaseth  me 
mightily — a  second  Palinurus.  Yet  how  that  a  man  could 
venture  to  embark  upon  an  element,  to  struggle  through 
the  horrors  of  which  must  occasionally  demand  the  utmost 


I04  Jacob  Faithful 

exertion  of  every  limb,  with  the  want  of  the  two  most 
necessary  for  his  safety,  is  to  me  quite  incomprehensible." 

*'  He  can  keep  his  legs,  sir." 

"Nay,  Jacob;  how  can  he  keep  what  are  already  gone f 
Even  thou  speakest  strangely  upon  the  water.  I  see  the 
dangers  that  surround  us,  Jacob,  yet  I  am  calm  j  I  feel  that 
I  have  not  lived  a  wicked  life — '  Integer  vita,  scelerisque 
purus^  as  Horace  truly  saith,  may  venture,  even  as  I  have 
done,  upon  the  broad  expanse  of  water.  What  is  it  that 
the  boy  is  providing  for  us  ?     It  hath  an  inviting  smell." 

"Lobscouse,  master,"  replied  old  Tom,  "and  not  bad 
lining  either." 

"  I  recollect  no  such  word — unde  derivatur,  friend  ?  " 

"  What's  that,  master  ?  "  inquired  old  Tom. 

"  It's  Latin  for  lobscouse,  depend  upon  it,  father,"  cried 
Tom,  who  was  stirring  up  the  savoury  mess  with  a  large 
wooden  spoon.  "  He  be  a  deadly  lively  old  gentleman, 
with  his  dead  language.  Dinner's  all  ready.  Are  we  to 
let  go  the  anchor,  or  pipe  to  dinner  first  ? " 

"  We  may  as  well  anchor,  boys.  We  have  not  a  quarter 
of  an  hour's  more  ebb,  and  the  wind  is  heading  us." 

Tom  and  I  went  forward,  brailed  up  the  mainsail, 
cleared  away,  and  let  go  the  anchor.  The  lighter  swung 
round  rapidly  to  the  stream.  The  Domine,  who  had  been 
in  a  fit  of  musing,  with  his  eyes  cast  upon  the  forests  of 
masts  which  we  had  passed  below  London  Bridge,  and 
which  were  now  some  way  astern  of  us,  of  a  sudden 
exclaimed,  in  a  loud  voice,  ^^  Parce  precor  I  Perictilosum 
est!'' 

The  lighter  swinging  short  round  to  her  anchor,  had 
surprised  the  Domine  with  the  rapid  motion  of  the 
panorama,  and  he  thought  we  had  fallen  in  with  one  of 
the  whirlpools  mentioned  by  Tom.  "  What  has  happened, 
good  Dux  ?  tell  me,"  cried  the  Domine  to  old  Tom,  with 
alarm  in  his  countenance. 

"  Why,  master,  I'll  tell  you  after  my  own  fashion," 
replied  old  Tom,  smiling  ;  and  then  singing,  as  he  held 
the  Domine  by  the  button  of  his  spencer — 


Jacob  Faithful  105 

«  Now  to  her  berth  the  craft  draws  nigh, 

With  slacken'd  sail,  she  feels  the  tide ; 
'  Stand  clear  the  cable  I '  is  the  cry — 
The  anchor's  gone,  we  safely  ride. 

"  And  now,  master,  we'll  bail  out  the  lobscouse.  We 
sha'n't  weigh  anchor  again  until  to-morrow  morning ;  the 
wind's  right  in  our  teeth,  and  it  will  blow  fresh,  I'm 
sartain.  Look  how  the  scud's  flying  ;  so  now  we'll  have 
a  jolly  time  of  it,  and  you  shall  have  your  allowance  of 
grog  on  board  before  you  turn  in." 

"I  have  before  heard  of  that  potation,"  replied  the 
Domine,  sitting  down  on  the  coamings  of  the  hatchway, 
•'  and  fain  would  taste  it." 


Chapter  XII 

Is  a  chapter  of  tales  in  a  double  sense — The  Domine,  from  the  natural 
effects  of  his  single-heartedness,  begins  to  see  double — A  new  definition 
of  philosophy,  with  an  episode  on  jealousy. 

We  now  took  our  seats  on  the  deck,  round  the  saucepan, 
for  we  did  not  trouble  ourselves  with  dishes,  and  the 
Domine  appeared  to  enjoy  the  lobscouse  very  much.  In 
the  course  of  half  an  hour  all  was  over :  that  is  to  say,  we 
had  eaten  as  much  as  we  wished  ;  and  the  Newfoundland 
dog,  who,  during  our  repast,  lay  close  by  young  Tom, 
flapping  the  deck  with  his  tail,  and  sniffing  the  savoury 
smell  of  the  compound,  had  just  licked  all  our  plates  quite 
clean,  and  was  now  finishing  with  his  head  in  the  sauce- 
pan •,  while  Tom  was  busy  carrying  the  crockery  into  the 
cabin,  and  bringing  out  the  bottle  and  tin  pannikins,  ready 
for  the  promised  carouse. 

"There,  now,  master,  there's  a  glass  o'  grog  for  you 
that  would  float  a  marline-spike.  See  if  that  don't  warm 
the  cockles  of  your  old  heart." 

"Ay,"  added  Tom,  "and  set  all  your  muscles  as  taut 
as  weather  backstays." 


io6  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Master  Tom,  with  your  leave,  I'll  mix  your  grog 
for  you  myself.     Hand  me  back  that  bottle,  you  rascal." 

"  Just  as  you  please,  father,"  replied  Tom,  handing  the 
bottle ;  "  but  recollect,  none  of  your  ivater  bewitched. 
Only  help  me  as  you  love  me." 

Old  Tom  mixed  a  pannikin  of  grog  for  Tom,  and 
another  for  himself.  I  hardly  need  say  which  was  the 
stiffer  of  the  two. 

"  Well,  father,  I  suppose  you  think  the  grog  will  run 
short.  To  be  sure,  one  ,  bottle  aren't  too  much  'mong 
four  of  us." 

"  One  bottle,  you  scamp !  there's  another  in  the  cup- 
board." 

*'  Then  you  must  see  double  already,  father.** 

Old  Tom,  who  was  startled  at  this  news,  and  who 
imagined  that  Tom  must  have  gained  possession  of  the 
other  bottle,  jumped  up  and  made  for  the  cupboard,  to 
ascertain  whether  what  Tom  asserted  was  correct.  This 
was  what  Tom  wished  :  he  immediately  changed  pannikins 
of  grog  with  his  father,  and  remained  quiet. 

"  There  is  another  bottle,  Tom,"  said  his  father,  coming 
out  and  taking  his  seat  again.  **  I  knew  there  was.  You 
young  rascal,  you  don't  know  how  you  frightened  me  !  " 
And  old  Tom  put  the  pannikin  to  his  lips.  "Drowned 
the  miller,  by  heavens  !  "  said  he.  "What  could  I  have 
been  about  ? "  ejaculated  he,  adding  more  spirit  to  his 
mixture. 

"I  suppose,  upon  the  strength  of  another  bottle  in  the 
locker,  you  are  doubling  the  strength  of  your  grog. 
Come,  father,"  and  Tom  held  out  his  pannikin,  "  do  put 
a  little  drop  of  stuff  in  mine — it's  seven-water  grog,  and 
I'm  not  on  the  black-list." 

**  No,  no,  Tom ;  your  next  shall  be  stronger.  Well, 
master,  how  do  you  like  your  liquor  ? " 

**  Verily,"  replied  the  Domine,  **  it  is  a  pleasant  and 
seducing  liquor.  Lo  and  behold !  I  am  at  the  bottom 
of  my  tin  utensil." 

"  Stop  till  I  fill  it  up  again,  old  gentleman.     I  see  you 


Jacob  Faithful  107 

are  one  of  the  right  sort.  You  know  what  the  song 
says — 

"  A  plague  on  those  musty  old  lubbers, 

Who  tell  us  to  fast  and  to  think, 

And  patient  fall  in  with  life's  rubbers, 

With  nothing  but  ivattr  to  drini/ 

"  Water,  indeed !  The  only  use  of  water  I  know  is  to 
mix  your  grog  with,  and  float  vessels  up  and  down  the 
world.  Why  was  the  sea  made  salt,  but  to  prevent  our 
drinking  too  much  water.     Water,  indeed  ! 

"  A  can  of  good  grog,  had  they  swigg'd  it, 
T  would  have  set  them  for  pleasure  agog. 
And  in  spite  of  the  rules 
Of  the  schools, 
The  old  fools 
Would  have  all  of  them  swigg'd  it, 

And  swore  there  was  nothing  like  grog." 

'*  I'm  exactly  of  your  opinion,  father,"  said  Tom,  hold- 
ing out  his  empty  pannikin. 

"  Always  ready  for  two  things.  Master  Tom — grog 
and  mischief  J  but,  however,  you  shall  have  one  more 
dose:' 

"  It  hath,  then,  medicinal  virtues  ? "  inquired  the  Domine. 

**  Ay,  that  it  has,  master — more  than  all  the  quacking 
medicines  in  the  world.  It  cures  grief  and  melancholy, 
and  prevents  spirits  from  getting  low." 

"  I  doubt  that,  father,"  cried  Tom,  holding  up  the 
bottle ;  **  for  the  more  grog  we  drink,  the  more  the 
spirits  become  low:* 

Cluck,  cluck,  came  from  the  thorax  of  the  Domine. 
"Verily,  friend  Tom,  it  appeareth,  among  other  virtues, 
to  sharpen  the  wits.  Proceed,  friend  Dux,  in  the  medicinal 
virtues  of  grog." 

**  Well,  master,  it  cures  love  when  it's  not  returned, 
and  adds  to  it  when  it  is.  I've  heard  say  it  will  cure 
jealousy  ;  but  that  I've  my  doubts  of.  Now  I  think  on 
it,  I  will  tell  you  a  yarn  about  a  jealous  match  between 
a  couple  of  fools.  Jacob,  aren't  your  pannikin  empty, 
my  boy  ? " 


io8  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Yes,"  replied  I,  handing  it  up  to  be  filled.  It  was 
empty,  for,  not  being  very  fond  of  it  myself,  Tom,  with 
my  permission,  had  drunk  it,  as  well  as  his  own. 

'*  There,  Jacob,  is  a  good  dose  for  you  ;  you  aren't 
always  craving  after  it,  like  Tom." 

*'  He  isn't  troubled  with  low  spirits,  as  I  am,  father." 

"  How  long  has  that  been  your  complaint,  Tom  ?  "  in- 
quired I. 

"  Ever  since  I  heard  how  to  cure  it.  Come,  father,  give 
us  the  yarn." 

"Well,  then,  you  must  mind  that  an  old  shipmate  o' 
mine,  Ben  Leader,  had  a  wife  named  Poll — a  pretty  sort 
of  craft  in  her  way — neat  in  her  rigging,  swelling-bows, 
taking  sort  of  figure-head,  and  devilish  well-rounded  in  the 
counter ;  altogether,  she  was  a  very  fancy  girl,  and  all  the 
men  were  a'ter  her.  She'd  a  roguish  eye,  and  liked  to  be 
stared  at,  as  most  pretty  women  do,  because  it  flatters 
their  vanities.  Now,  although  she  liked  to  be  noticed  so 
far  by  the  other  chaps,  yet  Ben  was  the  only  one  she  ever 
wished  to  be  handled  by ;  it  was  '  Paws  off,  Pompey ! ' 
with  all  the  rest.  Ben  Leader  was  a  good-looking,  active, 
smart  chap,  and  could  foot  it  in  a  reel,  or  take  a  bout  at 
single-stick  with  the  very  best  o'  them  ;  and  she  was 
mortal  fond  of  him,  and  mortal  jealous  if  he  talked  to  any 
other  woman,  for  the  women  liked  Ben  as  much  as  the 
men  liked  she.  Well,  as  they  returned  love  for  love,  so 
did  they  return  jealousy  for  jealousy  ;  and  the  lads  and 
lasses,  seeing  that,  had  a  pleasure  in  making  them  come 
to  a  misunderstanding.  So  every  day  it  became  worse 
and  worse  between  them.  Now,  I  always  says  that  it's  a 
stupid  thing  to  be  jealous,  ^cause  if  there  be  cause,  there  be 
no  cause  for  love ;  and  if  there  be  no  cause,  there  be  no 
cause  for  jealousy." 

"  You're  like  a  crow  in  a  rookery,  father — nothing  but 
caws,"  interrupted  Tom. 

"  Well,  I  suppose  I  am  ;  but  that's  what  I  call  chop 
logic — aren't  it,  master  ?  " 

"  It  was  a  syllogism,"  replied  the  Domine,  taking  the 
pannikin  from  his  mouth. 


Jacob  Faithful  109 

**  I  don't  know  what  that  is,  nor  do  I  want  to  know," 
replied  old  Tom  ;  "  so  I'll  just  go  on  with  my  story. 
Well,  at  last  they  came  to  downright  fighting.  Ben  licks 
Poll  'cause  she  talked  and  laughed  with  other  men,  and 
Poll  cries  and  whines  all  day  'cause  he  won't  sit  on  her 
knee,  instead  of  going  on  board  and  'tending  to  his  duty. 
Well,  one  night,  a'ter  work  was  over,  Ben  goes  on  shore 
to  the  house  where  he  and  Poll  used  to  sleep  j  and  when 
he  sees  the  girl  in  the  bar,  he  says,  *  Where  is  Poll  ? ' 
Now,  the  girl  at  the  bar  was  a  fresh-comer,  and  answers, 

*  What  girl  ? '  So  Ben  describes  her,  and  the  bar-girl 
answers,  '  She  be  just  gone  to  bed,  with  her  husband,  I 
suppose ; '  for,  you  see,  there  was  a  woman  like  her  who 
had  gone  up  to  her  bed,  sure  enough.  When  Ben  heard 
that,  he  gives  his  trousers  one  hitch,  and  calls  for  a 
quartern,  drinks  it  off  with  a  sigh,  and  leaves  the  house, 
believing  it  all  to  be  true.  A'ter  Ben  was  gone,  Poll  makes 
her  appearance,  and,  when  she  finds  Ben  wasn't  in  the  tap, 
says,  '  Young  woman,  did  a  man  go  upstairs  just  now  ? ' 

*  Yes,'  replied  the  bar-girl,  '  with  his  wife,  I  suppose  ;  they 
be  turned  in  this  quarter  of  an  hour.'  When  Poll  hears 
this,  she  almost  turned  mad  with  rage,  and  then  as  white 
as  a  sheet,  and  then  she  burst  into  tears,  and  runs  out  of 
the  house,  crying  out,  *  Poor  misfortunate  creature  that  I 
am  ! '  knocking  everything  down  undersized,  and  running 
into  the  arms  of  every  man  who  came  athwart  her  hawse." 

**I  understood  him,  but  just  now,  that  she  was  running 
on  foot;  yet  doth  he  talk  about  her  horse.  Expound, 
Jacob." 

"  It  was  a  nautical  figure  of  speech,  sir." 

"  Exactly,"  rejoined  Tom;  "it  meant  her  figure-head, 
old  gentleman  ;  but  my  yarn  won't  cut  a  figure,  if  I'm 
brought  up  all  standing  in  this  way.  Suppose,  master,  you 
hear  the  story  first,  and  understand  it  a'terwards  ? " 

"  I  will  endeavour  to  comprehend  by  the  context," 
replied  the  Domine. 

"  That  is,  I  suppose,  that  you'll  allow  me  to  stick  to  my 
text.     Well,  then,  here's  coil  away  again.     Ben,  you  see, 


no  Jacob  Faithful 

what  with  his  jealousy  and  what  with  a  whole  quartern  at 
a  draught,  became  somehow  nohow,  and  he  walked  down 
to  the  jetty  with  the  intention  of  getting  rid  of  himself,  and 
his  wife,  and  all  his  troubles,  by  giving  his  soul  back  to 
his  Creator,  and  his  body  to  the  fishes." 

"  Bad  philosophy,"  quoth  the  Domine. 

**  I  agree  with  you,  master,"  replied  old  Tom. 

**  Pray,  what  sort  of  a  thing  is  philosophy  ? "  inquired 
Tom. 

**  Philosophy,"  replied  old  Tom,  **  is  either  hanging, 
drowning,  shooting  yourself,  or,  in  short,  getting  out  of 
the  world  without  help." 

"  Nay,"  replied  the  Domine,  **  that  isfelo  de  seJ^ 

*'  Well,  I  pronounce  it  quicker  than  you,  master ;  but  it's 
one  and  the  same  thing :  but  to  go  on.  While  Ben  was 
standing  on  the  jetty,  thinking  whether  he  should  take  one 
more  quid  of  backey  afore  he  dived,  who  should  come  down 
but  Poll,  with  her  hair  all  adrift,  streaming  and  coach- 
whipping  astern  of  her,  with  the  same  intention  as  Ben — 
to  commit  philo-^offy.  Ben,  who  was  standing  at  the  edge 
of  the  jetty,  his  eyes  fixed  upon  the  water,  as  it  eddied 
among  the  piles,  looking  as  dismal  as  if  he  had  swallowed 
a  hearse  and  six,  with  the  funeral  feathers  hanging  out  of 
his  mouth " 

**  A  bold  comparison,"  murmured  the  Domine. 

**  Never  sees  her ;  and  she  was  so  busy  with  herself, 
that,  although  close  to  him,  she  never  sees  he — always 
remembering  that  the  night  was  dark.  So  Poll  turns  her 
eyes  up,  for  all  the  world  like  a  dying  jackdaw." 

"  Tell  me,  friend  Dux,"  interrupted  the  Domine,  **  doth 
a  jackdaw  die  in  any  peculiar  way  ? " 

•'  Yes,"  replied  young  Tom ;  **  he  always  dies  black, 
master." 

"Then  doth  he  die  as  he  liveth.  (Cluck,  cluck.)  Pro- 
ceed, good  Dux." 

"  And  don't  you  break  the  thread  of  my  yarn  any  more, 
master,  if  you  wish  to  hear  the  end  on  it.  So  Poll  begins 
to  blubber  about  Ben.     '  O  Ben,  Ben,*  cried  she  ;  *  cruel 


Jacob  Faithful  1 1 1 

cruel  man ;  for  to  come — for  to  go ;  for  to  go — for  to 
come  ! ' 

"  *  Who's  there  ? '  shouted  Ben. 

"  *  For  to  come — for  to  go,'  cried  Poll. 

*'  *  Ship  ahoy  ! '  hailed  Ben,  again. 

"  *  For  to  go — for  to  come,'  blubbered  Poll ;  and  then 
she  couldn't  bring  out  anything  more  for  sobbing.  With 
that,  Ben,  who  thought  he  knew  the  voice,  walks  up  to 
her,  and  says,  *  Be  that  you.  Poll  ? ' 

"  *  Be  that  you,  Ben  ? '  replied  Poll,  taking  her  hands 
from  her  face,  and  looking  at  him. 

**  *  I  thought  you  were  in  bed  with — with — oh  !  Poll !  ' 
said  Ben. 

"  '  And  I  thought  you  were  in  bed  with — oh !  Ben  !  * 
replied  Poll. 

"  '  But  I  wasn't.  Poll.' 

**  *  Nor  more  warn't  I,  Ben.' 

** '  And  what  brought  you  here,  Poll  ? ' 

**  '  I  wanted  for  to  die,  Ben.  And  what  brought  you 
here,  Ben  ? ' 

"  '  I  didn't  want  for  to  live.  Poll,  when  I  thought  you 
false.' 

"  Then  Polly  might  have  answered  in  the  words  of  the 
old  song,  master ;  but  her  poor  heart  was  too  full,  I 
suppose."     And  Tom  sang, 

"  Your  Polly  has  never  been  false,  she  declares, 
Since  last  time  we  parted  at  Wapping  Old  Stairs. 

"  Howsomever,  in  the  next  minute  they  were  both  hugging 
and  kissing,  sobbing,  shivering  and  shaking  in  each  other's 
arms ;  and  as  soon  as  they  had  settled  themselves  a  little, 
back  they  went,  arm  in  arm,  to  the  house,  had  a  good  stiff 
glass  to  prevent  their  taking  the  rheumatism,  went  to  bed, 
and  were  cured  of  the  jealousy  ever  a'terwards — which,  in 
my  opinion,  was  a  much  better  philo-zoffy  than  the  one  they 
had  both  been  bound  on.  There,  I've  wound  it  all  off  at 
last,  master,  and  now  we'll  fill  up  our  pannikins." 

"  Before  I  consent,  friend  Dux,  pr'ythee  inform  me  how 


112  Jacob  Faithful 

much  of  this  pleasant  liquor  may  be  taken  without  inebri-. 
ating,  "uulgo,  getting  tipsy." 

"  Father  can  drink  enough  to  float  a  jolly-boat,  master," 
replied  Tom  ;  "  so  you  needn't  fear.  I'll  drink  pan  for  pan 
with  you,  all  night  long." 

"  Indeed  you  won't,  mister  Tom,"  replied  the  father. 

"  But  I  will,  master." 

I  perceived  that  the  liquor  had  already  had  some  effect 
upon  my  worthy  pedagogue,  and  was  not  willing  that  he 
should  be  persuaded  into  excess.  I  therefore  pulled  him 
by  the  coat  as  a  hint ;  but  he  was  again  deep  in  thought, 
and  he  did  not  heed  me.  Tired  of  sitting  so  long,  I  got 
up,  and  walked  forward  to  look  at  the  cable. 

"  Strange,"  muttered  the  Domine,  "  that  Jacob  should 
thus  pull  me  by  the  garment.     What  could  he  mean  .''  " 

"Did  he  puil  you,  sir?"  inquired  Tom. 

**  Yea  many  times  ;  and  then  he  walked  away." 

**  It  appears  that  you  have  been  pulled  too  much,  sir," 
replied  Tom,  dexterously  appearing  to  pick  up  the  tail 
of  his  coat,  which  had  been  torn  off  by  the  dog,  and 
handing  it  to  him. 

^^  Eheu  !  Jacobe — -fiU  dilectlsshne — quid  fecistiV^  cried  the 
Domine,  holding  up  the  fragment  of  his  coat  with  a  look 
of  despair. 

"  *  A  long  pull,  a  strong  pull,  and  a  pull  all  together,'" 
sang  out  old  Tom :  and  then  looking  at  Tom,  "  Now, 
aren't  you  a  pretty  rascal,  master  Tom  ?  " 

"It  is  done,"  exclaimed  the  Domine,  with  a  sigh, 
putting  the  fragment  into  the  remaining  pocket ;  "  and 
it  cannot  be  undone." 

"Now,  I  think  it  is  undone,  and  can  be  done,  master," 
replied  Tom.  "  A  needle  and  thread  will  soon  join  the 
pieces  of  your  old  coat  again — in  holy  matrimony,  I  may 
safely  say " 

"  True.  {Cluck,  cluck.^  My  housekeeper  will  restore 
it;  yet  will  she  be  wroth.  ^  Fatnina  curaque  iraque  ;^ 
but  let  us  think  no  more  about  it,"  cried  the  Domine, 
drinking    deeply    from    his    pannikin,   and   each   minute 


Jacob  Faithful  113 

verging  fast  to  intoxication.  *' '  Nunc  est  hihendum,  nunc 
fede  libera  pulsanda  tellus^  I  feel  as  if  I  were  lifted  up, 
and  could  dance,  yea,  and  could  exalt  my  voice,  and  sing." 
"Could  you,  my  jolly  old  master?  then  we  will  both 
dance  and  sing — 

•'  Come,  let  us  dance  and  sing, 
While  all  Barbadoes  bells  shall  ring, 
Mars  scrapes  the  fiddle  string 
While  Venus  plays  the  lute. 
Hymen  gay,  trips  away, 
Jocund  at  the  wedding  day. 

"  Now  for  chorus — 

•'  Come,  let  us  dance  and  sing." 


Chapter  XIII 

The  "  fun  grows  fast  and  ftirious " — The  Pedagogue  does  not  scan  correctly, 
and  his  feet  become  very  unequal — An  allegorical  compliment  almost 
worked  up  into  a  literal  quarrel — At  length,  the  mighty  are  laid  low, 
and  the  Domine  hurts  his  nose. 

I  HEARD  Tom's  treble,  and  a  creaking  noise,  which  I 
recognised  to  proceed  from  the  Domine,  who  had  joined 
the  chorus ;  and  I  went  aft,  if  possible  to  prevent  further 
excess ;  but  I  found  that  the  grog  had  mounted  into  the 
Domine's  head,  and  all  my  hints  were  disregarded.  Tom 
was  despatched  for  the  other  bottle,  and  the  Domine's 
pannikin  was  replenished,  old  Tom  roaring  out — 

"  Come,  sling  the  flowing  bowl ; 

Fond  hopes  arise, 

The  girls  we  prize 
Shall  bless  each  jovial  soul : 

The  can,  boys,  bring, 

We'll  dance  and  sing, 
While  foaming  billows  roll. 


"  Now  for  the  chorus  again — 


"  Come,  sling  the  flowing  bowl,  &c. 
J.F.  H 


114  Jacob  Faithful 

**  Jacob,  why  don't  you  join  ? "  The  chorus  was  given 
by  the  whole  of  us.  Domine's  voice  even  louder,  though 
not  quite  so  musical  as  old  Tom's. 

**  £voe  !  "  cried  the  Domine ;  *'  evoe  !  cantemus* 

"  Amo,  amas — I  loved  a  lass, 

For  she  was  tall  and  slender ; 
Amat,  amat — she  laid  me  flat, 
Though  of  the  feminine  gender. 

"  Truly  do  I  forget  the  songs  of  my  youth,  and  of 
my  hilarious  days ;  yet  doth  the  potent  spirit  work  upon 
me  like  the  god  in  the  Cumean  sybil ;  and  I  shall  soon 
prophesy  that  which  shall  come  to  pass." 

"  So  can  I,"  said  Tom,  giving  me  a  nudge,  and  laughing. 

**  Do  thine  office  of  Ganymede,  and  fill  up  the  pannikin  : 
put  not  in  too  much  of  the  element.  Once  more  exalt 
thy  voice,  good  Dux." 

"  Always  ready,  master,"  cried  Tom,  who  sang  out 
again  in  praise  of  his  favourite  liquor — 

"  Smiling  grog  is  the  sailor's  best  hope,  his  sheet  anchor, 
His  compass,  his  cable,  his  log, 
That  gives  him  a  heart  which  life's  cares  cannot  canker 
Though  dangers  around  him, 
Unite  to  confound  him,  ^ 

He  braves  them,  and  tips  off  his  grog. 

'Tis  grog,  only  grog. 
Is  his  rudder,  his  compass,  his  cable,  his  log, 
The  sailor's  sheet  anchor  is  grog." 

"Verily,  thou  art  an  Apollo — or,  rather,  referring  to 
thy  want  of  legs,  half  an  Apollo — that  is,  a  demi-god. 
(Cluck,  cluck.)     Sweet  is  thy  lyre,  friend  Dux." 

"  Fair  words,  master;  I'm  no  liar,"  cried  Tom.  **  Clap 
a  stopper  on  your  tongue,  or  you'll  get  into  disgrace." 

**  Uhi  lapsus  quid  feci,'"  exclaimed  the  Domine  j  "I  spoke 
of  thy  musical  tongue ;  and  furthermore,  I  spoke  alle — 
gori — cal — ly." 

"  I  know  a  man  lies  with  his  tongue,  as  well  as  you  do, 
old  chap ;  but  as  for  telling  a  ke/I  of  a  (something)  lie,  as 
you  states,  I  say,  I  never  did,"  rejoined  old  Tom,  who  was 
getting  cross  in  his  cups. 


Jacob  Faithful  115 

I  now  interfered,  as  there  was  every  appearance  of  a 
fray ;  and  in  spite  of  young  Tom,  who  wished,  as  he 
termed  it,  to  kick  up  a  shindy,  prevailed  upon  them  to  make 
friends,  which  they  did,  shaking  hands  for  nearly  five 
minutes.  When  this  was  ended,  I  again  entreated  the 
Domine  not  to  drink  any  more,  but  go  to  bed. 

'^  Amice  Jacohe^''  replied  the  Domine ;  "the  liquor  hath 
mounted  into  thy  brain,  and  thou  wouldst  rebuke  thy 
master  and  thy  preceptor.  Betake  thee  to  thy  couch,  and 
sleep  off  the  effects  of  thy  drink.  Verily,  Jacob,  thou  art 
plenus  Veteris  Bacchi ;  or,  in  plain  English,  thou  art  drunk. 
Canst  thou  conjugate,  Jacob?  I  fear  not.  Canst  thou 
decline,  Jacob  ?  I  fear  not.  Canst  thou  scan,  Jacob  ?  I 
fear  not.  Nay,  Jacob,  methinks  that  thou  art  unsteady  in 
thy  gait,  and  not  over  clear  in  thy  vision.  Canst  thou  hear, 
Jacob  ?  if  so,  I  will  give  thee  an  oration  against  inebriety, 
with  which  thou  mayest  lie  down  on  thy  pillow.  Wilt 
thou  have  it  in  Latin  or  in  Greek  ? " 

"  O,  d — n  your  Greek  and  Latin  !  "  cried  old  Tom  : 
"keep  that  for  to-morrow.  Sing  us  a  song,  my  old  hearty  j 
or  shall  I  sing  you  one .?     Here  goes. 

"  For  while  the  grog  goes  round, 
All  sense  of  danger's  drown'd, 
We  despise  it  to  a  man  ; 

We  sing  a  little — " 

**  Sing  a  little,"  bawled  the  Domine. 

"  And  laugh  a  little — " 

"  Laugh  a  little,"  chorused  young  Tom. 

"  And  work  a  little — " 

"  Work  a  little,"  cried  the  Domine. 

"  And  swear  a  little — " 

"  Swear  not  a  little,"  echoed  Tom. 

"  And  fiddle  a  little—"' 

"  Fiddle  a  little,"  hiccuped  the  Domine. 

«  And  foot  it  a  little — " 

"  Foot  it  a  little,"  repeated  Tom. 


ii6  Jacob  Faithful 

"  And  swig  the  flowing  can, 
And  fiddle  a  little, 
And  foot  it  a  little, 
And  swig  the  flowing  can — " 

roared  old  Tom,  emptying  his  pannikin. 

"  And  swig  the  flowing  can — " 

followed  the  Domine,  tossing  ofFhis. 

"  And  swig  the  flowing  can — " 

cried  young  Tom,  turning  up  his  pannikin  empty. 

**  Hurrah  !  that's  what  I  calls  glorious.  Let's  have  it 
over  again,  and  then  we'll  have  another  dose.  Come,  now, 
all  together."  Again  was  the  song  repeated ;  and  when 
they  came  to  **  foot  it  a  little,"  old  Tom  jumped  on  his 
stumps,  seizing  hold  of  the  Domine,  who  immediately  rose, 
and  the  three  danced  round  and  round  for  a  minute  or  two, 
singing  the  song  and  chorus,  till  old  Tom,  who  was  very 
far  gone,  tripped  against  the  combings  of  the  hatchway, 
pitching  his  head  into  the  Domine's  stomach,  who  fell 
backwards,  clinging  to  young  Tom's  hand ;  so  that  they 
all  rolled  on  the  deck  together — my  worthy  preceptor 
underneath  the  other  two. 

"  Foot  it  rather  too  much  that  time,  father,"  said  young 
Tom,  getting  up  the  first,  and  laughing.  "  Come,  Jacob, 
let's  put  father  on  his  pins  again ;  he  can't  right  without  a 
purchase."  With  some  difficulty  we  succeeded.  As  soon 
as  he  was  on  his  legs  again,  old  Tom  put  a  hand  upon 
each  of  our  shoulders,  and  commenced,  with  a  drunken 
leer — 

"  What  though  his  timbers  they  are  gone, 
And  he's  a  slave  to  tipple, 
No  better  sailor  e'er  was  born 
Than  Tom,  the  jovial  cripple. 

**  Thanky,  my  boys,  thanky ;  now  rouse  up  the  old 
gentleman.  I  suspect  we  knocked  the  wind  out  of  him. 
Hollo,  there,  are  you  hard  and  fast  ?  " 

"  The  bricks  are  hard,  and  verily  my  senses  are  fast 
departing,"  quoth  the  Domine,  rousing  himself,  and  sitting 
up,  staring  around  him. 


Jacob  Faithful  1 1 7 

'*  Senses  going,  do  you  say,  master  ? "  cried  old  Tom. 
'*  Don't  throw  them  overboard  till  we  have  made  a  finish. 
One  more  pannikin  apiece,  one  more  song,  and  then  to  bed. 
Tom,  Where's  the  bottle  ?  " 

"  Drink  no  more,  sir,  I  beg  ;  you'll  be  ill  to-morrow," 
said  I  to  the  Domine. 

*'  Deprome  quadrimum,^^  hiccuped  the  Domine.  **  Carpe 
diem — quam  minimum — credula  postero — Sing,  friend  Dux — 
Quern  virum — sumes  celehrare — musis  amicus — ^Where's  my 
patty-pan  ?  " — We  are  not  Thracians — Natis  in  usum — latitia 
scyphis pugnare — (hiccup) — Thracum  est — therefore  we — will 
not  fight — but  we  will  drink — recepto  didce  mihifurere  est 
amico — Jacob,  thou  art  drunk — sing,  friend  Dux,  or  shall  I 
sing  ? — 

*'  Propria  qate  maribut  had  a  little  dog, 
Qute  genus  was  his  name — 

"  My  memory  faileth  me — what  was  the  tune  ? " 

"  That  tune  was  the  one  the  old  cow  died  of,  I'm  sure," 
replied  Tom.     "  Come,  old  Nosey,  strike  up  again." 

*'  Nosey,  from  nasus — truly,  it  is  a  fair  epithet ;  and  it  re- 
mindeth  me  that  my  nose suffered  in  the  fall  which  I  re- 
ceived just  now.    Yet  I  cannot  sing — having  no  words " 

"Nor  tune,  either,  master,"  replied  old  Tom;  "so here 
goes  for  you — 

"  Young  Susan  had  lovers,  so  many,  that  she 

Hardly  knew  upon  which  to  decide  ; 
They  all  spoke  sincerely,  and  promised  to  be 

All  worthy  of  such  a  sweet  bride. 
In  the  morning  she'd  gossip  with  William,  and  then 

The  noon  will  be  spent  with  young  Harry. 
The  evening  with  Tom  ;  so,  amongst  all  the  men, 

She  never  could  tell  which  to  marry. 
Heigho !  I  am  afraid 

Too  many  lovers  will  puzzle  a  maid." 

"  It  pleaseth  me — it  ringeth  in  mine  ears — yea,  most 
pleasantly.  Proceed, — the  girl  was  as  the  Pyrrha  of 
Horace — 

"  Quis  multa  gracilis — te  puer  in  rosa — 
Perfusus  liquidis  urget  odoribus. 
Grato,  Pyrrha — sub  antro  ?  " 


ii8  Jacob  Faithful 

"  That's  all  high  Dutch  to  me,  master  ;  but  I'll  go  on  if 
I  can.  My  memory-box  be  a  little  out  of  order.  Let  me 
see — oh  ! 

"  Now  William  grew  jealous,  and  so  went  away  j 

Harry  got  tired  of  wooing; 
And  Tom  having  teased  her  to  fix  on  the  day. 

Received  but  a  frown  for  so  doing ; 
So,  'mongst  all  her  lovers,  quite  left  in  the  lurch) 

She  pined  every  night  on  her  pillow  ; 
And  meeting  one  day  a  pair  going  to  church, 

Turned  away,  and  died  under  a  willow. 
Heigho  !   I  am  afraid 

Too  many  lovers  will  puzzle  a  maid. 

'*  Now,  then,  old  gentleman,  tip  oif  your  grog.  You've 
got  your  allowance,  as  I  promised  you." 

*'  Come,  master,  you're  a  cup  too  low,"  said  Tom,  who 
although  in  high  spirits,  was  not  at  all  intoxicated  ;  indeed, 
as  I  afterwards  found,  he  could  carry  more  than  his  father. 
"  Come,  shall  I  give  you  a  song  ?  " 

"  That's  right,  Tom  j  a  volunteer's  worth  two  pressed 
men.  Open  your  mouth  wide,  an'  let  your  whistle  fly 
away  with  the  gale.     You  whistles  in  tune,  at  all  events." 

Tom  then  struck  up,  the  Domine  see-sawing  as  he  sat^ 
and  getting  very  sleepy — 

"  Luck  in  life,  or  good  or  bad, 

Ne'er  could  make  me  melancholy  ; 
Seldom  rich,  yet  never  sad, 

Sometimes  poor,  yet  always  jolly. 
Fortune's  in  my  scale,  that's  poz. 

Of  mischance  put  more  than  half  in  ; 
Yet  I  don't  know  how  it  was, 

I  could  never  cry  for  laughing — 
Ha!  ha!  ha  1  Ha!  ha!  ha  I 

I  could  never  cry  for  laughing. 

"  Now  for  chorus,  father. 

"Hal  ha!  ha!  Ha!  ha  f 
I  could  never  cry  for  laughing. 

"  That's  all  I  know  ;  and  that's  enough,  for  it  won't  wake 
up  the  old  gentleman." 


Jacob  Faithful  1 1 9 

But  it  did.  "  Ha,  ha,  ha — ha,  ha,  ha  !  I  could  never 
die  for  laughing,"  bawled  out  the  Domine,  feeling  for  his 
pannikin  j  but  this  was  his  last  effort.  He  stared  round 
him.  "  Verily,  verily,  we  are  in  a  whirlpool — how  every- 
thing turneth  round  and  round  !  Who  cares  ?  Am  I  not 
an  ancient  mariner — *  Qui  videt  mare  turgtdutn — et  infames 
scopulos^     Friend  Dux,  listen  to  vciQ—favet  Unguis.''^ 

"  Well,"  hiccuped  old  Tom,  "  so  I  will — but  speak — 
plain  English — as  I — do." 

"  That  I'll  be  hanged  if  he  does,"  said  Tom  to  me. 
**  In  half  an  hour  more,  I  shall  understand  Old  Nosey's 
Latin  just  as  well  as  his — plain  English,  as  he  calls  it." 

"I  will  discuss  in  any  language — that  is — in  any  tongue 
— be  it  in  the  Greek  or  the  Latin — nay,  even — (hiccups) — 
friend  Dux — hast  thou  not  partaken  too  freely — of — dear 
me  !  Quo  me,  Bacche,  rap'is  tui — plenum — truly  I  shall  be 
tipsy — and  will  but  finish  my  pattypan — dulce  periculum  est 
— Jacob — can  there  be  two  Jacobs — and  two  old  Toms — 
nay — mirabile  dlctu — there  are  two  young  Toms,  and  two 
dog  Tommies — each  with — two  tails.  Bacche,  parce — 
precor — precor — Jacob,  where  art  thou  ? — Ego  sum  tu  es — 
thou  art — sumus,  we  are — where  am  I  ?  Procumbit  humi  bos 
— for  Bos — read  Dobbs — amo,  amas — I  loved  a  lass.  Tityre, 
tu  patula  sub  teg — mine — nay — I  quote  wrong — then  must  I 
be — I  do  believe  that — I'm  drunk." 

"  And  I'm  cock  sure  of  it,"  cried  Tom,  laughing,  as  the 
Domine  fell  back  in  a  state  of  insensibility. 

*'  And  I'm  cock  sure,"  said  old  Tom,  rolling  himself 
along  the  deck  to  the  cabin  hatch,  '*  that  I've  as  much — as  I 
can  stagger — under,  at  all  events — so  I'll  sing  myself  to 
sleep — 'cause  why — I'm  happy.  Jacob — mind  you  keep  all 
the  watches  to-night — and  Tom  may  keep  the  rest."  Old 
Tom  then  sat  up,  leaning  his  back  against  the  cabin  hatch, 
and  commenced  one  of  those  doleful  ditties  which  are  some- 
times heard  on  the  forecastle  of  a  man-of-war ;  he  had  one 
or  two  of  these  songs  that  he  always  reserved  for  such 
occasions.  While  Tom  and  I  dragged  the  Domine  to  bed, 
old  Tom  slowly  drawled  out  his  ditty — 


120  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Oh  !  we  sailed  to  Virgi-ni-a,  and  thence  to  Fy-al, 
Where  we  water'd  our  shipping,  and  so  then  weigh-ed  all, 
Full  in  view,  on  the  seas — boys — seven  sail  we  did — es-py, 
O I  we  man-ned  our  capstern,  and  weighed  spee-di-ly. 

**  That's  right,  my  boys,  haul  and  hold stow  the  old 

Dictionary  away — for  he  can't  command  the  parts  of  speech. 

"  The  very  next  morning — the  engagement  proved — hot, 
And  brave  Admiral  Benbow  receiv-ed  a  chain — shot. 
O  when  he  was  wounded  to  his  merry  men — he — did — say, 
Take  me  up  in  your  arms,  boys,  and  car-ry  me  a-way. 

"Now,  boys,  come  and  help   me — Tom — none   of  your 

foolery — for  your  poor  old  father  is — drunk ." 

We  assisted  old  Tom  into  the  other  *'  bed-place"  in  the 
cabin.  "  Thanky,  lads — one  little  bit  more,  and  then  I'm 
done — as  the  auctioneer  says — going — going 

"  O  the  guns  they  did  rattle,  and  the  bul-Iets — did — fly, 
When  brave  Benbow — for  help  loud— did  cry, 
Carry  me  down  to  the  cock-pit — there  is  ease  for  my  smarts, 
If  my  merry  men  should  see  me — 'twill  sure — break — their — hearts. 

'*  Going, — old  swan-hopper — as  I  am — going — gone.'* 

Tom  and  I  were  left  on  the  deck. 

*'  Now,  Jacob,  if  you  have  a  mind  to  turn  in.  I'm  not 
sleepy — you  shall  keep  the  morning  watch." 

*'  No,  Tom,  you'd  better  sleep  first.  I'll  call  you  at  four 
o'clock.  We  can't  weigh  till  tide  serves  ;  and  I  shall  have 
plenty  of  sleep  before  that." 

Tom  went  to  bed,  and  I  walked  the  deck  till  the  morn- 
ing, thinking  over  the  events  of  the  day,  and  wondering 
what  the  Domine  would  say  when  he  came  to  his  senses. 
At  four  o'clock,  as  agreed,  I  roused  Tom  out  and  turned 
into  his  bed,  and  was  soon  as  fast  asleep  as  old  Tom  and 
the  Domine,  whose  responsive  snores  had  rung  in  my  ears 
during  the  whole  time  that  I  had  walked  the  deck. 


Jacob  Faithful  121 


Chapter  XIV 

Cold  water  and  repentance — ^The  two  Toms  almost  moral,  and  myself  full 
of  wise  reflections — The  chapter,  being  full  of  grave  saws,  is  luckily 
very  short ;  and  though  a  very  lentibU  one,  I  would  not  advise  it  to  be 
skipped. 

About  half-past  eight  the  next  morning,  I  was  called  up 
by  Tom  to  assist  in  getting  the  lighter  under  weigh. 
When  I  came  on  deck  I  found  old  Tom  as  fresh  as  if  he 
had  not  drunk  a  drop  the  night  before,  very  busily  stump- 
ing about  the  windlass,  with  which  we  hove  up  first  the 
anchor,  and  then  the  mast.  "  Well,  Jacob,  my  boy,  had 
sleep  enough .?  Not  too  much,  I  daresay  ;  but  a  bout  like 
last  night  don't  come  often,  Jacob — only  once  in  a  way ; 
now  and  then  I  do  believe  it's  good  for  my  health.  It's  a 
great  comfort  to  me,  my  lad,  to  have  you  on  board  with 
me,  because,  as  you  never  drinks,  I  may  now  indulge  a 
little  oftener.  As  for  Tom,  can't  trust  him — too  much 
like  his  father — had  nobody  to  trust  to  for  the  look-out, 
except  the  dog  Tommy,  till  you  came  with  us.  I  can  trust 
Tommy  as  far  as  keeping  off  the  river  sharks  ;  he'll  never 
let  them  take  a  rope-yarn  off  the  deck,  night  or  day  ;  but 
a  dog's  but  a  dog,  after  all.  Now  we're  brought  to  ;  so 
clap  on,  my  boy,  and  let's  heave  up  with  a  will." 

"How's  the  old  gentleman,  father  ?  "  said  Tom,  as  we 
paused  a  moment  from  our  labour  at  the  windlass. 

"  Oh  !  he's  got  a  good  deal  more  to  sleep  off  yet. 
There  he  lies,  flat  on  his  back,  blowing  as  hard  as  a 
grampus.  Better  leave  him  as  long  as  we  can.  We'll 
rouse  him  as  soon  as  we  turn  the  Greenwich  reach.  Tom, 
didn't  you  think  his   nose  loomed  devilish  large  yester- 

"  Never  seed  such  a  devil  of  a  cutwater  in  my  life, 
father." 

"  Well,  then,  you'll  see  a  larger  when  he  gets  up,  for 
it's   swelled  bigger  than  the  brandy  bottle.     Heave  and 


122  Jacob  Faithful 

haul !     Now  bring  to  the  fall,  and  up  with  the  mast,  boys, 
while  I  goes  aft  and  takes  the  helm." 

Old  Tom  went  aft.  During  the  night  the  wind  had 
veered  to  the  north,  and  the  frost  had  set  in  sharp,  the 
rime  covered  the  deck  of  the  barge,  and  here  and  there 
floating  ice  was  to  be  seen  coming  down  with  the  tide. 
The  banks  of  the  river  and  fields  adjacent  were  white 
with  hoar  frost,  and  would  have  presented  but  a  cheerless 
aspect,  had  not  the  sun  shone  out  clear  and  bright.  Tom 
went  aft  to  light  the  fire,  while  I  coiled  away  and  made  all 
snug  forward.     Old  Tom  as  usual  carolled  forth — 

"  Oh  !  for  a  soft  and  gentle  wind, 

I  heard  a  fair  one  cry, 
But  give  to  me  the  roaring  breeze, 

And  white  waves  beating  high, 
And  white  waves  beating  high,  my  boys, 

The  good  ship  tight  and  free, 
The  world  of  waters  is  our  own, 

And  merry  men  are  we." 

**  A  nice  morning  this  for  cooling  a  hot  head,  that's 
sartain.  Tommy,  you  rascal,  you're  like  a  court  lady, 
with  her  velvet  gownd,  covered  all  over  with  diamonds," 
continued  old  Tom,  looking  at  the  Newfoundland  dog, 
whose  glossy  black  hair  was  besprinkled  with  little  icicles, 
which  glittered  in  the  sun.  You  and  Jacob  were  the 
only  sensible  ones  of  the  party  last  night,  for  you  both 
were  sober." 

"  So  was  I,  father.  I  was  as  sober  as  a  judge,"  ob- 
served Tom,  who  was  blowing  up  the  fire. 

"  May  be,  Tom,  as  a  judge  a'ter  dinner  ;  but  a  judge  on 
the  bench  be  one  thing,  and  a  judge  over  a  bottle  be 
another,  and  not  bad  judges  in  that  way  either.  At  all 
events,  if  you  warn't  sewed  up,  it  wasn't  your  fault." 

"  And  I  suppose,"  replied  Tom,  "  it  was  only  your 
misfortune  that  you  were." 

"  No,  I  don't  say  that ;  but  still,  when  I  look  at  the 
dog,  who's  but  a  beast  by  nature,  and  thinks  of  myself 
who  wasn't  meant  to  be  a  beast,  why,  then  I  blushes,  that's 
all." 


Jacob  Faithful  123 

**  Jacob,  look  at  father — now,  does  he  blush  ? "  cried 
Tom. 

"  I  can't  say  that  I  perceive  it,"  replied  I,  smiling. 

*'  Well,  then,  if  I  don't,  it's  the  fault  of  my  having  no 
legs.  I'm  sure,  when  they  were  knocked  off,  I  lost  half 
the  blood  in  my  body,  and  that's  the  reason,  I  suppose. 
At  all  events,  I  meant  to  blush,  so  we'll  take  the  will  for 
the  deed." 

**  But  do  you  mean  to  keep  sober  in  future,  father  ?  " 
said  Tom. 

"Never  do  you  mind  that — mind  your  own  business, 
Mr  Tom.  At  all  events,  I  sha'n't  get  tipsy  till  next  time, 
and  that's  all  I  can  say  with  safety,  'cause,  d'ye  see,  I 
knows  my  failing.  Jacob,  did  you  ever  see  that  old 
gentleman  sail  too  close  to  the  wind  before  ?  " 

"I  never  did — I  do  not  think  that  he  was  ever  tipsy 
before  last  night." 

"  Then  I  pities  him — his  headache,  and  his  repentance. 
Moreover,  there  be  his  nose  and  the  swallow-tail  of  his 
coat  to  make  him  unhappy.  We  shall  be  down  abreast  of 
the  Hospital  in  half  an  hour.  Suppose  you  go  and  give 
him  a  shake,  Jacob.  Not  you,  Tom  :  I  won't  trust  you — 
you'll  be  doing  him  a  mischief;  you  haven't  got  no  fellow- 
feeling,  not  even  for  dumb  brutes." 

"  I'll  thank  you  not  to  take  away  my  character  that  way, 
father,"  replied  Tom.  "  Didn't  I  put  you  to  bed  last 
night  when  you  were  speechless  ? " 

"  Suppose  you  did — what  then  ?  ** 

"  Why,  then,  I  had  a  feeling  for  a  dumb  brute.  I 
only  say  that,  father,  for  the  joke  of  it,  you  know,"  con- 
tinued Tom,  going  up  to  his  father  and  patting  his  rough 
cheek. 

"  I  know  that,  my  boy  ;  you  never  were  unkind,  that's 
sartain  j  but  you  must  have  your  joke — 

"  Merry  thoughts  are  link'd  with  laughter. 
Why  should  we  bury  them  ? 
Sighs  and  tears  may  come  hereafter, 
No  need  to  hurry  them. 


124  Jacob  Faithful 

They  who  through  a  spying-glasa, 

View  the  minutes  as  they  pass, 
Make  the  sun  a  gloomy  mass, 

But  the  fault's  their  own,  Tom." 

In  the  meantime  I  was  vainly  attempting  to  rouse  the 
Domine.  After  many  fruitless  attempts,  I  put  a  large 
quantity  of  snufF  on  his  upper  lip,  and  then  blew  it  up  his 
nose.  But,  merciful  powers  !  what  a  nose  it  had  become 
— larger  than  the  largest  pear  that  I  ever  saw  in  my  life. 
The  whole  weight  of  old  Tom  had  fallen  on  it,  and 
instead  of  being  crushed  by  the  blow,  it  appeared  as  if,  on 
the  contrary,  it  had  swelled  up,  indignant  at  the  injury  and 
affront  which  it  had  received.  The  skin  was  as  tight  as 
the  parchment  of  a  drum,  and  shining  as  if  it  had  been 
oiled,  while  the  colour  was  a  bright  purple.  Verily,  it 
was  the  Domine's  nose  in  a  rage. 

The  snuff  had  the  effect  of  partially  awakening  him 
from  his  lethargy.  "  Six  o'clock — did  you  say,  Mrs 
Bately  .''  Are  the  boys  washed — and  in  the  schoolroom  ? 
I    will    rise    speedily  —  yet    I    am    overcome   with    much 

heaviness.        Delapsus   sotnnus   ah "    and    the   Domine 

snored  again.  I  renewed  my  attempts,  and  gradually 
succeeded.  The  Domine  opened  his  eyes,  stared  at  the 
deck  and  carlines  above  him,  then  at  the  cupboard  by  his 
side  ;  lastly,  he  looked  at  and  recognised  me.  Eheu,  Jacohel 
— where  am  I  ?  And  what  is  that  which  presses  upon  my 
brain  ?  What  is  it  so  loadeth  my  cerebellum,  even  as  if 
it  were  lead  ?  My  memory — where  is  it  ?  Let  me  recall 
my  scattered  senses."  Here  the  Domine  was  silent  for 
some  time.  "  Ah  me  !  yea,  and  verily,  I  do  recollect — 
with  pain  of  head  and  more  pain  of  heart — that  which  I 
would  fain  forget,  which  is,  that  I  did  forget  myself ;  and 
indeed  have  forgotten  all  that  passed  the  latter  portion  of 
the  night.  Friend  Dux  hath  proved  no  friend,  but  hath 
led  me  into  the  wrong  path ;  and  as  for  the  potation  called 
Grog — Eheu  Jacobe  I  liow  have  I  fallen — fallen  in  my  own 
opinion — fallen  in  thine — how  can  I  look  thee  in  the  face  ! 
O  Jacob  !  what  must  thou  think  of  him  who  hath  hitherto 


Jacob  Faithful  125 

been  thy  preceptor  and  thy  guide  ! "  Here  the  Domine 
fell  back  on  the  pillow,  and  turned  away  his  head. 

"  It  is  not  your  fault,  sir,"  replied  I,  to  comfort  him  ; 
"you  were  not  aware  of  what  you  were  drinking — you 
did  not  know  that  the  liquor  was  so  strong.  Old  Tom 
deceived  you." 

"Nay,  Jacob,  I  cannot  lay  that  flattering  unction  to  my 
wounded  heart.  I  ought  to  have  known,  nay,  now  I 
recall  to  mind,  that  thou  wouldst  have  warned  me — even 
to  the  pulling  off  of  the  tail  of  my  coat — yet  I  heeded  thee 
not,  and  I  am  humbled — even  I,  the  master  over  seventy 
boys !  " 

**  Nay,  sir,  it  was  not  I  who  pulled  off  the  tail  of  your 
coat,  it  was  the  dog." 

"  Jacob,  I  have  heard  of  the  wonderful  sagacity  of  the 
canine  species,  yet  could  not  I  ever  have  believed  that 
a  dumb  brute  would  have  perceived  my  folly,  and  warned 
me  from  intoxication.  Mirabile  dictu !  Tell  me,  Jacob, 
thou  who  hast  profited  by  these  lessons  which  thy  master 
could  give — although  he  could  not  follow  up  his  precept 
by  example — tell  me,  what  did  take  place  }  Let  me  know 
the  full  extent  of  my  backsliding." 

**  You  fell  asleep,  sir,  and  we  put  you  to  bed." 

**  Who  did  me  that  office,  Jacob  ? " 

"  Young  Tom  and  I,  sir  j  as  for  old  Tom,  he  was  not 
in  a  state  to  help  anybody." 

"  I  am  humbled,  Jacob —  " 

**  Nonsense,  old  gentleman ;  why  make  a  fuss  about 
nothing  ? "  said  old  Tom,  who,  overhearing  our  con- 
versation, came  into  the  cabin.  *'  You  had  a  drop  too 
much,  that's  all,  and  what  o'  that  ?  It's  a  poor  heart 
that  never  rejoiceth.  Rouse  a  bit,  wash  your  face  with 
cold  Thames-water,  and  in  half  an  hour  you'll  be  as 
fresh  as  a  daisy." 

"  My  head  acheth  ! "  exclaimed  the  Domine,  "even  as 
if  there  were  a  ball  of  lead  rolling  from  one  temple  to 
the  other  ;  but  my  punishment  is  just." 

**  That  is  the  punishment  of  making  too  free  with  the 


126  Jacob  Faithful 

bottle,  for  sartain ;  but  if  it  is  an  offence,  then  it  carries 
its  own  punishment,  and  that's  quite  sufficient.  Every 
man  knows  that  when  the  heart's  over  light  at  night, 
that  the  head's  over  heavy  in  the  morning.  I  have  known 
and  proved  it  a  thousand  times.  Well,  what  then  ?  I 
puts  the  good  against  the  bad,  and  I  takes  my  punish- 
ment like  a  man." 

"  Friend  Dux,  for  so  I  will  still  call  thee,  thou  lookest 
not  at  the  offence  in  a  moral  point  of  vision." 

"  What's  moral  ?  "  replied  old  Tom. 

"  I  would  point  out  that  intoxication  is  sinful." 

*'  Intoxication  sinful !  I  suppose  that  means  that  it's  a 
sin  to  get  drunk.  Now,  master,  it's  my  opinion  that  as 
God  Almighty  has  given  us  good  liquor,  it  was  for  no 
other  purpose  than  to  drink  it  j  and  therefore  it  would 
be  ungrateful  to  him,  and  a  sin,  not  to  get  drunk — that 
is,  with  discretion." 

**  How  canst  thou  reconcile  getting  drunk,  with  dis- 
cretion, good  Dux  ? " 

"  I  mean,  master,  when  there's  work  to  be  done,  the 
work  should  be  done  ;  but  when  there's  plenty  of  time, 
and  every  thing  is  safe,  and  all  ready  for  a  start  the  next 
morning,  I  can  see  no  possible  objection  to  a  jollification. 
Come,  master,  rouse  out;  the  lighter's  abreast  of  the  Hospital 
almost  by  this  time,  and  we  must  put  you  on  shore." 

The  Domine,  whose  clothes  were  all  on,  turned  out  of 
his  bed-place,  and  went  with  us  on  deck.  Young  Tom, 
who  was  at  the  helm,  as  soon  as  we  made  our  appear- 
ance, wished  him  a  good-morning  very  respectfully. 
Indeed,  I  always  observed  that  Tom,  with  all  his  im- 
pudence and  waggery,  had  a  great  deal  of  consideration 
and  kindness.  He  had  overheard  the  Domine's  conversa- 
tion with  me,  and  would  not  further  wound  his  feelings 
with  a  jest.  Old  Tom  resumed  his  place  at  the  helm, 
while  his  son  prepared  the  breakfast,  and  I  drew  a  bucket 
of  water  for  the  Domine  to  wash  his  face  and  hands.  Of 
his  nose  not  a  word  was  said  ;  and  the  Domine  made  no 
remarks  to  me  on  the  subject,  although  I  am  persuaded 


Jacob  Faithful  127 

it  must  have  been  very  painful,  from  the  comfort  he 
appeared  to  derive  in  bathing  it  with  the  freezing  water. 
A  bowl  of  tea  was  a  great  solace  to  him,  and  he  had 
hardly  finished  it  when  the  lighter  was  abreast  the 
Hospital  stairs.  Tom  jumped  into  the  boat  and  hauled 
it  alongside.  I  took  the  other  oar,  and  the  Domine, 
shaking  hands  with  old  Tom,  said,  "  Thou  didst  mean 
kindly,  and  therefore  I  wish  thee  a  kind  farewell,  good 
Dux." 

"  God  be  with  you,  master,"  replied  old  Tom ;  *'  shall 
we  call  for  you  as  we  come  back  ? " 

"Nay,  nay/'  replied  the  Domine,  "the  travelling  by 
land  is  more  expensive,  but  less  dangerous.'     I  thank  thee 

for  thy  songs,  and for  all  thy  kindness,  good  Dux. 

Are  my  paraphernalia  in  the  boat,  Jacob  ?  " 

I  replied  in  the  affirmative.  The  Domine  stepped  in, 
and  we  pulled  him  on  shore.  He  landed,  took  his  bundle 
and  umbrella  under  his  arm,  shook  hands  with  Tom  and 
then  with  me,  without  speaking,  and  I  perceived  the 
tears  start  in  his  eyes  as  he  turned  and  walked  away. 

"Well,  now,"  said  Tom,  looking  after  the  Domine, 
"  I  wish  I  had  been  drunk  instead  of  he.  He  does  so 
take  it  to  heart,  poor  old  gentleman  !  " 

"He  has  lost  his  self-esteem,  Tom,"  replied  I.  "It 
should  be  a  warning  to  you.  Come,  get  your  oar  to 
pass." 

"  Well,  some  people  be  fashioned  one  way  and  some 
another.  I've  been  tipsy  more  than  once,  and  I  never 
lost  anything  but  my  reason,  and  that  came  back  as  soon 
as  the  grog  left  my  head.  I  can't  understand  that  fretting 
about  having  had  a  glass  too  much.  I  only  frets  when 
I  can't  get  enough.  Well,  of  all  the  noses  I  ever  saw, 
his  beats  them  by  chalks  ;  I  did  so  want  to  laugh  at  it, 
but  I  knew  it  would  pain  him." 

"  It  was  very  kind  of  you,  Tom,  to  hold  your  tongue, 
and  I  thank  you  very  much." 

"  And  yet  that  old  dad  of  mine  swears  I've  got  no 
fellow-feeling,  which   I  consider   a  very  undutiful   thing 


128  Jacob  Faithful 

for  him  to  say.  What's  the  reason,  Jacob,  that  sons  be 
always  cleverer  than  their  fathers  ? " 

•*  I  didn't  know  that  was  the  case,  Tom." 

**  But  it  is  so  now,  if  it  wasn't  in  olden  time.  The 
proverb  says,  '  Young  people  think  old  people  to  be  fools, 
but  old  people  knoiv  young  people  to  be  fools.'  We 
must  alter  that,  for  I  says,  *  Old  people  think  young 
people  to  be  fools,  but  young  people  know  old  people 
to  be  fools.'" 

*'  Have  it  your  own  way,  Tom,  that  will  do,  rowed 
of  all." 

We  tossed  in  our  oars,  made  the  boat  fast,  and  gained 
the  deck,  where  old  Tom  still  remained  at  the  helm. 
"Well,"  said  he,  "Jacob,  I  never  thought  I  should  be 
glad  to  see  the  old  gentleman  clear  of  the  lighter,  but 
I  was — devilish  glad  ;  he  was  like  a  load  on  my  con- 
science this  morning ;  he  was  trusted  to  my  charge  by 
Mr  Drummond,  and  I  had  no  right  to  persuade  him  to 
make  a  fool  of  himself.  But,  however,  what's  done  can't 
be  helped,  as  you  say  sometimes  ;  and  it's  no  use  crying  ; 
still  it  was  a  pity,  for  he  be,  for  all  the  world,  like  a 
child.  There's  a  fancy  kind  of  lass  in  that  wherry,  cross- 
ing our  bows  J  look  at  the  streamers  from  her  top-gallant. 

"  Come  o'er  the  sea, 

Maiden  to  me, 
Mine  through  sunshine,  storm,  and  snows. 

Seasons  may  roil, 

But  the  true  soul 
Burns  the  same  wherever  it  goes. 

Then  come  o'er  the  sea. 

Maiden,  with  me," 

**  See  you  hanged  first,  you  underpinned  old  hulk  !  " 
replied  the  female  in  the  boat,  which  was  then  close 
under  our  bows. 

"  Well,  that  be  civil,  for  sartain,"  said  old  Tom, 
laughing. 


Jacob  Faithful  129 


Chapter  XV 

I  am  unshipped  for  a  short  time,  in  order  to  record  shipments  and  engross 
invoices — Form  a  new  acquaintance,  what  is  called  in  the  world  "  A 
warm  Man,"  though  he  passed  the  best  part  of  his  life  among  icebergs, 
and  one  whole  night  within  the  ribs  of  death — His  wife  works  hard 
at  gentility. 

We  arrived  at  Sheerness  the  next  morning,  landed  the 
bricks,  which  were  for  the  Government  buildings,  and 
returned  in  ballast  to  the  wharf.  My  first  inquiry  was 
for  the  Domine ;  but  he  had  not  yet  returned  ;  and  Mr 
Drummond  further  informed  me  that  he  had  been  obliged 
to  send  away  his  under  clerk,  and  wished  me  to  supply 
his  place  until  he  could  procure  another.  The  lighter 
therefore  took  in  her  cargo,  and  sailed  without  me,  which 
was  of  no  consequence,  as  my  apprenticeship  still  went 
on.  I  now  lived  with  Mr  Drummond  as  one  of  his  own 
family,  and  wanted  for  nothing.  His  continual  kindness 
to  me  made  me  strive  all  I  could  to  please  him  by  diligence 
and  attention,  and  I  soon  became  very  expert  at  accounts, 
and,  as  he  said,  very  useful.  The  advantages  to  me,  I 
hardly  need  observe,  were  considerable,  and  I  gained 
information  every  day.  Still,  although  I  was  glad  to  be 
of  any  use  to  Mr  Drummond,  the  confinement  to  the  desk 
was  irksome,  and  I  anxiously  looked  for  the  arrival  of 
the  new  clerk  to  take  my  place,  and  leave  me  free  to 
join  the  lighter.  Mr  Drummond  did  not  appear  to  me 
to  be  in  any  hurry ;  indeed,  I  believe  that  he  would 
have  retained  me  altogether,  had  he  not  perceived  that 
I  still  wished  to  be  on  the  river. 

"  At  all  events,  Jacob,  I  shall  keep  you  here  until  you 
are  master  of  your  work ;  it  will  be  useful  to  you  here- 
after," he  said  to  me  one  day;  *'and  you  do  not  gain 
much  by  sailing  up  and  down  the  river." 

This  was  true ;  and  I  also  derived  much  advantage 
from  the  evenings  spent  with  Mrs  Drummond,  who  was 

J.F.  I 


1 3©  Jacob  Faithful 

a  very  sensible,  good  woman,  and  would  make  me  read 
aloud  to  her  and  little  Sarah  as  they  sat  at  their  needle. 

I  had  no  idea,  until  I  was  employed  posting  up  the 
books,  that  Mr  Drummond's  concern  was  so  extensive, 
or  that  there  was  so  much  capital  employed  in  the  business. 
The  Domine  returned  a  few  days  after  my  arrival.  When 
we  met,  his  nose  had  resumed  its  former  appearance, 
and  he  never  brought  up  the  subject  of  the  evening  on 
board  of  the  lighter.  I  saw  him  frequently,  mostly  on 
Sundays  after  I  had  been  to  church  with  the  family  ;  and 
half  an  hour,  at  least,  was  certain  to  be  dedicated  to  our 
reading  together  one  of  the  classics. 

As  I  was  on  shore  several  months,  I  became  acquainted 
with  many  families,  one  or  two  of  which  were  worth 
noticing.  Among  the  foremost  was  Captain  Turnbull, 
at  least  such  was  his  appellation  until  within  the  last 
two  months  previous  to  my  making  his  acquaintance, 
when  Mr  Turnbull  sent  out  his  cards,  George  Turnbull, 
Esq.  The  history  of  Captain  Turnbull  was  as  follows. 
He  had,  with  his  twin  brother,  been  hung  up  at  the 
knocker,  and  afterwards  had  been  educated  at  the 
Foundling  Hospital ;  they  had  both  been  apprenticed  to 
the  sea ;  grown  up  thorough-bred,  capital  seamen,  in 
the  Greenland  fishery  ;  rose  to  be  mates,  then  captains ; 
had  been  very  successful,  owned  part,  then  the  whole  of 
a  ship,  afterwards  two  or  three  ships  j  and  had  wound 
up  with  handsome  fortunes.  Captain  Turnbull  was  a 
married  man  without  a  family ;  his  wife,  fine  in  person, 
vulgar  in  speech,  a  would-be  fashionable  lady,  against 
which  fashion  Captain  T.  had,  for  years,  pleaded  poverty ; 
but  his  brother,  who  had  remained  a  bachelor,  died, 
leaving  him  forty  thousand  pounds, — a  fact  which  could 
not  be  concealed.  Captain  Turnbull  had  not  allowed 
his  wife  to  be  aware  of  the  extent  of  his  own  fortune, 
more  from  a  wish  to  live  quietly  and  happily,  than  from 
any  motive  of  parsimony,  for  he  was  liberal  to  excess ; 
but  now  he  had  no  further  excuse  to  plead,  and  Mrs 
Turnbull  insisted    upon  fashion.      The   house   they   had 


Jacob  Faithful  131 

lived  in  was  given  up,  and  a  marine  villa  on  the  borders 
of  the  Thames,  to  a  certain  degree,  met  the  views  of 
both  parties ;  Mrs  Turnbull  anticipating  dinners  and 
fetes,  and  the  captain  content  to  watch  what  was  going 
on  in  the  river,  and  amuse  himself  in  a  wherry.  They 
had  long  been  acquaintances  of  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond ; 
and  Captain  Turnbull's  character  v/as  such  as  always 
to  command  the  respect  of  Mr  Drummond,  as  he  was  an 
honest,  friendly  man.  Mrs  Turnbull  had  now  set  up 
her  carriage,  and  she  was,  in  her  own  opinion,  a  very 
great  personage.  She  would  have  cut  all  her  former 
acquaintance ;  but  on  that  point  the  captain  was  inflexible, 
particularly  as  regarded  the  Drummonds.  As  far  as  they 
were  concerned,  Mrs  Turnbull  gave  way,  Mrs  Drummond 
being  a  lady-like  woman,  and  Mr  Drummond  universally 
respected  as  a  man  of  talent  and  information.  Captain, 
or  rather,  Mr  Turnbull,  was  a  constant  visitor  at  our 
house,  and  very  partial  to  me.  He  used  to  scold  Mr 
Drummond  for  keeping  me  so  close  to  my  desk,  and 
would  often  persuade  him  to  give  me  a  couple  of  hours' 
run.  When  this  was  obtained,  he  would  call  a  waterman, 
throw  him  a  crown,  and  tell  him  to  get  out  of  his  wherry 
as  fast  as  he  could.  We  then  embarked,  and  amused 
ourselves  pulling  up  and  down  the  river,  while  Mrs 
Turnbull,  dressed  in  the  extremity  of  the  fashion,  rode 
out  in  the  carriage  and  left  her  cards  in  every  direction. 

One  day  Mr  Turnbull  called  upon  the  Drummonds, 
and  asked  them  to  dine  with  him  on  the  following 
Saturday :  they  accepted  the  invitation.  "  By-the-by," 
said  he,  "  I've  got  what  my  wife  calls  a  remind  in  my 
pocket ; "  and  he  pulled  out  of  his  coat-pocket  a  large 
card,  "  with  Mr  and  Mrs  Turnbull's  compliments,"  &c,, 
which  card  had  been  doubled  in  two  by  his  sitting  down 
upon  it,  shortly  after  he  came  in.  Mr  Turnbull  straightened 
it  again  as  well  as  he  could,  and  laid  it  on  the  table. 
"  And  Jacob,"  said  he,  "  you'll  come  too.  You  don't 
want  a  remind  j  but  if  you  do,  my  wife  will  send  you 
one." 


132  Jacob  Faithful 

I  replied,  "  that  I  wanted  no  remind  for  a  good  dinner." 

"  No,  I  dare  say  not,  my  boy ;  but  recollect  that  you 
come  an  hour  or  two  before  the  dinner-hour,  to  help  me ; 
there's  so  much  fuss  with  one  thing  or  another  that  I'm 
left  in  the  lurch ;  and  as  for  trusting  the  keys  of  the 
spirit-room  to  that  long-togged  rascal  of  a  butler,  I'll  see 
him  harpoon'd  first  j  so  do  you  come  and  help  me, 
Jacob." 

This  having  been  promised,  he  asked  Mr  Drummond 
to  lend  me  for  an  hour  or  so,  as  he  wished  to  take  a  row 
up  the  river.  This  was  also  consented  to ;  we  embarked 
and  pulled  away  for  Kew  Bridge.  Mr  Turnbull  was  as 
good  a  hand  at  a  yarn  as  old  Tom,  and  many  were  the 
adventures  he  narrated  to  me  of  what  had  taken  place 
during  the  vicissitudes  of  his  life,  more  especially  when 
he  was  employed  in  the  Greenland  fishery.  He  related 
an  accident  that  morning,  which  particularly  bore  upon 
the  marvellous,  although  I  do  not  believe  that  he  was  at 
all  guilty  of  indulging  in  a  traveller's  licence. 

"Jacob,"  said  he,  "I  recollect  once  when  I  was  very 
near  eaten  alive  by  foxes,  and  that  in  a  very  singular 
manner.  I  was  then  mate  of  a  Greenland  ship.  "We 
had  been  on  the  fishing  ground  for  three  months,  and 
had  twelve  fish  on  board.  Finding  v/e  were  doing  well, 
we  fixed  our  ice-anchors  upon  a  very  large  iceberg, 
drifting  up  and  down  with  it,  and  taking  fish  as  we  fell 
in  with  them.  One  morning  we  had  just  cast  loose  the 
carcase  of  a  fish  which  we  had  cut  up,  when  the  man 
in  the  crow's  nest,  on  the  look  out  for  another  *  fall,' 
cried  out  that  a  large  polar  bear  and  her  cub  were 
swimming  over  to  the  iceberg,  against  the  side  of  which, 
and  about  half  a  mile  from  us,  the  carcase  of  a  whale 
was  beating.  As  we  had  nothing  to  do,  seven  of  us 
immediately  started  in  chase :  we  had  intended  to  have 
gone  after  the  foxes,  which  had  gathered  there  also  in 
hundreds,  to  prey  upon  the  dead  whale.  It  was  then  quite 
calm :  we  soon  came  up  with  the  bear,  who  at  first  was 
for  making  ofFj  but  as  the  cub  could  not  get  on  over  the 


Jacob  Faithful  133 

rough  ice  as  well  as  the  old  one,  she  at  last  turned  round 
to  bay.  We  shot  the  cub  to  make  sure  of  her,  and  it  did 
make  sure  of  the  dam  not  leaving  us  till  either  she  or  we 
perished  in  the  conflict.  I  never  shall  forget  her  moaning 
over  the  cub,  as  it  lay  bleeding  on  the  ice,  while  we  fired 
bullet  after  bullet  into  her.  At  last  she  turned  round, 
gave  a  roar  and  a  gnashing  snarl,  which  you  might  have 
heard  a  mile,  and,  with  her  eyes  flashing  fire,  darted  upon 
us.  We  received  her  in  a  body,  all  close  together,  with 
our  lances  to  her  breast ;  but  she  was  so  large  and  strong, 
that  she  beat  us  all  back,  and  two  of  us  fell ;  fortunately 
the  others  held  their  ground,  and  as  she  was  then  on  end, 
three  bullets  were  put  into  her  chest,  which  brought  her 
down.  I  never  saw  so  large  a  beast  in  my  life.  I  don't 
wish  to  make  her  out  larger  than  she  really  was,  but  I 
have  seen  many  a  bullock  at  Smithfield  which  would  not 
weigh  two-thirds  of  her.  Well,  after  that,  we  had  some 
trouble  in  despatching  her  ;  and  while  we  were  so  em- 
ployed, the  wind  blew  up  in  gusts  from  the  northward, 
and  the  snow  fell  heavy.  The  men  were  for  returning  to 
the  ship  immediately,  which  certainly  was  the  wisest  thing 
for  us  all  to  do  ;  but  I  thought  that  the  snow-storm  would 
blow  over  in  a  short  time,  and  not  wishing  to  lose  so  fine 
a  skin,  resolved  to  remain  and  flay  the  beast ;  for  I  knew, 
that  if  left  there  a  few  hours,  as  the  foxes  could  not  get 
hold  of  the  carcase  of  the  whale,  which  had  not  grounded, 
they  would  soon  finish  the  bear  and  cub,  and  the  skins  be 
worth  nothing.  Well,  the  other  men  went  back  to  the 
ship,  and  as  it  was,  the  snow-storm  came  on  so  thick  that 
they  lost  their  way,  and  would  never  have  found  her,  if  it 
was  not  that  the  bell  was  kept  tolling  for  a  guide  to  them. 
I  soon  found  that  I  had  done  a  very  foolish  thing ;  instead 
of  the  storm  blowing  over,  the  snow  came  down  thicker 
and  thicker  ;  and  before  I  had  taken  a  quarter  of  the  skin 
off,  I  was  becoming  cold  and  numbed,  and  then  I  was 
unable  to  regain  the  ship,  and  with  every  prospect  of  being 
frozen  to  death  before  the  storm  was  over.  At  last,  I 
knew  what  was  my  only  chance.     I  had  flayed  all  the  belly 


134  Jacob  Faithful 

of  the  bear,  but  had  not  cut  her  open.  I  ripped  her  up, 
tore  out  all  her  inside,  and  then  contrived  to  get  into  her 
body,  where  I  lay,  and,  having  closed  up  the  entrance 
hole,  was  warm  and  comfortable,  for  the  animal  heat  had 
not  yet  been  extinguished.  This  manoeuvre,  no  doubt, 
saved  my  life  :  and  I  have  heard  that  the  French  soldiers 
did  the  same  in  their  unfortunate  Russian  campaign,  killing 
their  horses,  and  getting  inside  to  protect  themselves  from 
the  dreadful  weather.  Well,  Jacob,  I  had  not  lain  more 
than  half  an  hour,  when  I  knew  by  sundry  jerks  and  tugs 
at  my  new  invented  hurricane-house,  that  the  foxes  were 
busy — and  so  they  were,  sure  enough.  There  must 
have  been  hundreds  of  them,  for  they  were  at  work  in  all 
directions,  and  some  pushed  their  sharp  noses  into  the 
opening  where  I  had  crept  in  ;  but  I  contrived  to  get  out 
my  knife  and  saw  their  noses  across  whenever  they  touched 
me,  otherwise  I  should  have  been  eaten  up  in  a  very  short 
time.  There  were  so  many  of  them,  and  they  were  so 
ravenous,  that  they  soon  got  through  the  bear's  thick  skin, 
and  were  tearing  away  at  the  flesh.  Now  I  was  not  so 
much  afraid  of  their  eating  me,  as  I  thought  that  if  I 
jumped  up  and  discovered  myself,  they  would  have  all 
fled.  No  saying,  though  ;  two  or  three  hundred  ravenous 
devils  take  courage  when  together ;  but  I  was  afraid  that 
they  would  devour  my  covering  from  the  weather,  and 
then  I  should  perish  with  the  cold  ;  and  I  also  was  afraid 
of  having  pieces  nipped  out  of  me,  which  would  of  course 
oblige  me  to  quit  my  retreat.  At  last  daylight  was  made 
through  the  upper  part  of  the  carcase,  and  I  was  only  pro- 
tected by  the  ribs  of  the  animal,  between  which  every  now 
and  then  their  noses  dived  and  nipped  my  seal-skin  jacket.  I 
was  just  thinking  of  shouting  to  frighten  them  away,  when 
I  heard  the  report  of  half  a  dozen  muskets,  and  some  of  the 
bullets  struck  the  carcase,  but  fortunately  did  not  hit  me. 
I  immediately  hallooed  as  loud  as  I  could,  and  the  men, 
hearing  me,  ceased  firing.  They  had  fired  at  the  foxes, 
little  thinking  that  I  was  inside  of  the  bear.  I  crawled 
out  j  the  storm  was  over,  and  the  men  of  the  ship  had 


Jacob  Faithful  135 

come  back  to  look  for  me.  My  brother,  who  was  also  a 
mate  on  board  of  the  vessel,  who  had  not  been  with  the 
first  party,  had  joined  them  in  the  search,  but  with  little 
hopes  of  finding  me  alive.  He  hugged  me  in  his  arms, 
covered  as  I  was  with  blood,  as  soon  as  he  saw  me.  He's 
dead  now,  poor  fellow  ! — That's  the  story,  Jacob." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,"  replied  I ;  but  perceiving  that  the 
memory  of  his  brother  affected  him,  I  did  not  speak  again 
for  a  few  minutes.  We  then  resumed  our  conversation, 
and  pulling  back  with  the  tide,  landed  at  the  wharf. 

On  the  day  of  the  dinner  party,  I  went  up  to  Mr 
TurnbuU's  at  three  o'clock,  as  he  had  proposed.  I  found 
the  house  in  a  bustle ;  Mr  and  Mrs  Turnbull,  with  the 
butler  and  footman,  in  the  dining-room,  debating  as  to  the 
propriety  of  this  and  that  being  placed  here  or  there,  both 
servants  giving  their  opinion,  and  arguing  on  a  footing 
of  equality,  contradicting  and  insisting,  Mr  Turnbull 
occasionally  throwing  in  a  word,  and  each  time  snubbed 
by  his  wife,  although  the  servants  dare  not  take  any 
liberty  with  him.  "  Do,  pray,  Mr  Turnbull,  leave  Z^us  to 
settle  these  matters.  Get  /6up  your  wine ;  that  is  your 
department.  Leave  the  room,  Mr  Turnbull,  ^if  you  please. 
Mortimer  and  I  know  what  we  are  about,  without  your 
ifinterference." 

"  Oh !  by  the  Lord,  I  don't  wish  to  interfere  ;  but  I 
wish  you  and  your  servants  not  to  be  squabbling,  that's 
all.     If  they  gave  me  half  the  cheeJi " 

"Do  pray,  Mr  Turnbull,  leave  the  room,  and  allow  me 
to  regulate  my  own  'owj-Aold." 

"  Come,  Jacob,  we'll  go  down  into  the  cellar,"  said  Mr 
Turnbull ;  and  accordingly  we  went. 

I  assisted  Mr  Turnbull  in  his  department  as  much  as  I 
could,  but  he  grumbled  very  much.  "  I  can't  bear  all  this 
nonsense,  all  this  finery  and  foolery.  Every  thing  comes 
.  up  cold,  every  thing  is  out  of  reach.  The  table's  so  long, 
and  so  covered  with  uneatables  that  my  wife  is  hardly 
within  hail ;  and,  by  jingo,  with  her  the  servants  are 
masters.     Not  with  me,  at  all  events  j  for  if  they  spoke 


136  Jacob  Faithful 

to  me  as  they  do  to  Mrs  Turnbull,  I  would  kick  them 
out  of  the  house.  However,  Jacob,  there's  no  help  for 
it.  All  one  asks  for  is  quiet ;  and  I  must  put  up  with 
all  this  sometimes,  or  I  should  have  no  quiet  from  one 
year's  end  to  another.  When  a  woman  will  have  her 
way,  there's  no  stopping  her  :  you  know  the  old  verse — 

"A  man's  a  fool  who  strives  by  force  or  skill 
To  stem  the  torrent  of  a  woman's  will ; 
For  if  she  will,  she  will,  you  may  depend  on't, 
And  if  she  won't,  she  won't — and  there's  an  end  on't. 

"  Now  let's  go  up  into  my  room,  and  v/e  will  chat  while  I 
wash  my  hands." 

As  soon  as  Mr  Turnbull  was  dressed,  we  went  down 
into  the  drawing-room,  which  was  crowded  with  tables, 
loaded  with  every  variety  of  ornamental  articles.  "  Now 
this  is  what  my  wife  calls  fashionable.  One  might  as  well 
be  steering  through  an  ice  floe  as  try  to  come  to  an  anchor 
here  without  running  foul  of  something.  It's  hard  a  port 
or  hard  a  starboard  every  minute ;  and  if  your  coat-tail 
jibes,  away  goes  something,  and  whatever  it  is  that  smashes, 
Mrs  T.  aKvays  swears  it  was  the  most  valuable  thing  in  the 
room.  I'm  like  a  bull  in  a  china-shop.  One  comfort  is 
that  I  never  come  in  here  except  when  there's  company. 
Indeed,  I'm  not  allowed,  thank  God.  Sit  on  a  chair,  Jacob, 
one  of  those  spider-like  French  things,  for  my  wife  won't 
allow  blacks,  as  she  calls  them,  to  come  to  an  anchor  upon 
her  sky-blue  silk  sofas.  How  stupid  to  have  furniture 
that  one's  not  to  make  use  of!  Give  me  comfort;  but  it 
appears  that's  not  to  be  bought  for  money." 


Chapter  XVI 

High  life  above   stairs,   a   little  below  the  mark — fashion,  French,  vertu 
and  all  that. 

Six  o'clock  was   now   near   at   hand,   and   Mrs   Turnbull 
entered  the  drawing-room  in  full  dress.    She  certainly  v/as 


Jacob  Faithful  137 

a  very  handsome  woman,  and  had  every  appearance  of  * 
being  fashionable  ;  but  it  was  her  language  which  exposed 
her.  She  was  like  the  peacock.  As  long  as  she  was 
silent  you  could  but  admire  the  plumage,  but  her  voice 
spoilt  all.  "Now,  Mr  Turnbull,"  said  she,  "I  wish  to 
Z»explain  to  you  that  there  are  certain  ^improprieties  in  your 
behaviour  which  I  cannot  put  /6up  with,  particularly  that 
/^of  talking  about  when  you  were  before  the  mast." 

"  Well,  my  dear,  is  that  anything  to  be  ashamed 
of?" 

**  Yes,  Mr  Turnbull,  that  /^is — one  /^always  sinks  them 
ere  particulars  in  fashionable  society.  To  -zyfrtuperate  in 
company  a'n't  pleasant,  and  i/i've  thought  of  a  plan  which 
may  -^act  as  an  -^impediment  to  your  vulgarity.  Recollect, 
Mr  T.,  wheny^ever  I  say  that  ifi've  an  Va^ache,  it's  to  be  a 
sign  for  you  to  'old  your  tongue  ;  and,  Mr  T.,  i^oblige  me 
by  wearing  kid  gloves  all  the  evening." 

"What,  at  dinner  time,  my  dear?" 

"  Yes,  at  dinner  time  ;  your  'ands  are  not  fit  to  be 
touched." 

"  Well,  I  recollect  when  you  thought  otherwise." 

*'  When,  Mr  T.  ?  'ave  I  not  often  told  you  so  ?  " 

"  Yes,  lately ;  but  I  referred  to  the  time  when  one 
Poll  Bacon  of  Wapping  took  my  hand  for  better  or  for 
worse." 

"  Really,  Mr  T.,  you  quite  shock  me.  My  name  was 
Mary,  and  the  Bacons  are  a  good  old  /finglish  name. 
You  'ave  their  ^arms  quartered  on  the  carriage  in  right  o' 
me.     That's  some  thing,  I  can  tell  you." 

"Something  I  had  to  pay  for  pretty  smartly,  at  all 
events." 

"  The  payment,  Mr  T.,  was  on  account  of  granting 
^arms  to  you,  who  never  ^ad  any." 

"  And  never  wished  for  them.  What  do  I  care  for  such 
stuff?" 

"  And  when  you  did  choose,  Mr  Turnbull,  you  might 
have  consulted  me,  instead  of  making  yourself  the  laughing- 
stock of  Sir  George  Naylor  and  all  the  'eralds.     Who  but 


138  Jacob  Faithful 

a  madman  would  have  chosen  three  harpoons  saluims,  and 
three  barrels  couchants,  with  a  spouting  whale  for  a  crest  ? 
Just  to  point  out  to  everybody  what  should  /;ever  be 
buried  in  /^oblivion  ;  and  then  your  beastly  motto — which 
I  ivould  have  changed — '  Blubber  for  ever  !  '  Blubber  in- 
deed !  ^enough  to  make  ^any  one  blubber  for  ever." 

"  Well,  the  heralds  told  me  they  were  just  what  I  ought 
to  have  chosen,  and  very  apposite,  as  they  termed  it." 

"They  took  your  money  and  laughed  at  you.  Two 
pair  of  griffins,  a  lion,  half-a-dozen  leopards,  and  a  hand 
with  a  dagger,  wou'dn't  'ave  cost  a  farding  more.  But 
what  can  you  ^expect  from  an  'eg-  ?  " 

**  But  if  I  was  cured,  I  should  be  what  you  were — Bacon." 

"  I  won't  demean  myself,  Mr  Turnbull." 

**  That's  right,  my  dear,  don't ;  there's  no  curing  you. 
Recollect  the  motto  you  chose  in  preference  to  mine." 

"  Well,  and  a  very  proper  one — '  Too  much  familiarity 
breeds  contempt^ — is  it  not  so.  Master  Faithful."*" 

"  Yes,  madam,  it  was  one  of  our  copies  at  school." 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  sir,  it  was  my  hown  /?»invention." 

Rap  tap,  rap  tap  tap,  tap  tap. 

"  Mr  and  Mrs  Peters,  of  Petercumb  Hall,"  announced 
the  butler.  Enter  Mrs  Peters  first,  a  very  diminutive  lady, 
and  followed  by  Mr  Peters,  six  feet  four  inches  without 
his  shoes,  deduct  for  stooping  and  curved  shoulders 
seven  inches.  Mr  Peters  had  retired  from  the  Stock 
Exchange  with  a  competence,  bought  a  place,  named  it 
Petercumb  Hall,  and  set  up  his  carriage.  Another  knock, 
and  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond  were  announced.  Compli- 
ments exchanged,  and  a  pastile  lighted  by  Mrs  Turnbull. 

"  Well,  Drummond,"  said  Mr  Turnbull,  *'  what  are 
coals  worth  now  ? " 

"  Mr  Turnbull,  Pve  got  such  an  ^eadache." 

This  was  of  course  a  matter  of  condolence  from  all 
present,  and  a  stopper  upon  Mr  Turnbull's  tongue. 

Another  sounding  rap,  and  a  pause.  "  Monsieur  and 
Madame  de  Tagliabue  coming  up."  Enter  Monsieur  and 
Madame  de  Tagliabue.     The  former,  a  dapper  little  French- 


Jacob  Faithful  139 

man,  with  a  neat  pair  of  legs,  and  stomach  as  round  as 
a  pea.  Madame  sailing  in  like  an  outward-bound  East 
Indiaman,  with  studding  sails  below  and  aloft ;  so  large  in 
her  dimensions,  that  her  husband  might  be  compared  to 
the  pilot-boat  plying  about  her  stern. 

"  Charmee  de  vous  voir,  Madame  Tom-bulle.  Vous 
vous  portez  bien ;  n'est-ce  pas  ?  " 

"  Ve,^^  replied  Mrs  Turnbull,  who  thus  exhausted  her 
knowledge  of  the  French  language ;  while  the  Monsieur 
tried  in  vain,  first  on  one  side,  and  then  on  the  other, 
to  get  from  under  the  lee  of  his  wife  and  make  his 
bow.  This  was  not  accomplished  until  the  lady  had 
taken  possession  of  a  sofa,  which  she  filled  most  comfort- 
ably. 

Who  these  people  were,  and  how  they  lived,  I  never 
could  find  out  :  they  came  in  a  fly  from  Brentford. 

Another  announcement.  "  My  Lord  Babbleton  and  Mr 
Smith  coming  up." 

"  Mr  T.,  pray  go  down  and  receive  his  lordship." 
("  There  are  two  wax  candles  for  you  to  light  on  the  hall 
table,  and  you  must  walk  up  with  them  before  his  lord- 
ship," said  the  lady  aside.) 

'*  I'll  be  hanged  if  I  do,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull ;  "let  the 
servants  light  him." 

"  O,  Mr  T,,  I've  such  an  'eadache  !  " 

**  So  you  may  have,"  replied  Mr  T,,  sitting  down 
doggedly. 

In  the  meantime  Mr  Smith  entered,  leading  Lord 
Babbleton,  a  boy  of  twelve  or  thirteeen  years  old,  shy, 
awkward,  red-haired,  and  ugly,  to  whom  Mr  Smith  was 
tutor.  Mrs  T.  had  found  out  Mr  Smith,  who  was  residing 
near  Brentford  with  his  charge,  and  made  his  acquaintance 
on  purpose  to  have  a  lord  on  her  visiting-list,  and,  to  her 
delight,  the  leader  had  not  forgotten  to  bring  his  bear  with 
him.  Mrs  Turnbull  sprang  to  the  door  to  receive  them, 
making  a  prepared  courtesy  to  the  aristocratical  cub,  and 
then  shaking  him  respectfully  by  the  hand,  "  Won't  your 
lordship  walk  to  the  fire  }      Isn't  your  lordship  cold  }     I 


140  Jacob  Faithful 

hope  your  lordship's  sty  is  better  in  your  lordship's  eye. 
Allow  me  to  introduce  to  your  lordship's  notice,  Mr  and 
Mrs  Peters — Madame  and  Mounsheer  Tagleebue — Mr  and 
Mrs  Drummond,  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Viscount 
Babbleton."  As  for  Mr  Turnbull  and  myself,  we  were 
left  out,  as  unworthy  of  introduction.  "  We  ai-e  ready  for 
dinner,  Mr  Turnbull." 

"  Snobbs,  get  dinner  dressed  up,"  said  Mr  T.  to  the 
butler. 

"  O,  Mr  T.,  I've  such  an  'eadache." 

This  last  headache  was  produced  by  Mr  T.  forgetting 
himself,  and  calling  the  butler  by  his  real  name,  which  was 
Snobbs  J  but  Mrs  Turnbull  had  resolved  that  it  should  be 
changed  to  Morthner — or  rather,  to  Mr  Mortimer,  as  the 
household  were  directed  to  call  him,  on  pain  of  expulsion. 

Dinner  was  announced.  Madame  Tagliabue,  upon  what 
pretence  I  know  not,  was  considered  the  first  lady  in  the 
room,  and  Lord  Babbleton  was  requested  by  Mrs  Turnbull 
to  hand  her  down.  Madame  rose,  took  his  lordship's 
hand,  and  led  him  away.  Before  they  were  out  of  the 
room,  his  lordship  had  disappeared  among  the  ample  folds 
of  Madame's  gown,  and  was  seen  no  more  until  she  pulled 
him  out,  on  their  arrival  at  the  dinner-table.  At  last  we 
were  all  arranged  according  to  Mrs  TurnbuU's  wishes, 
although  there  were  several  chops  and  changes  about, 
until  the  order  of  precedence  could  be  correctly  observed. 
A  French  cook  had  been  sent  for  by  Mrs  Turnbull ;  and 
not  being  mistress  of  the  language,  she  had  a  card  with 
the  names  of  the  dishes  to  refresh  her  memory,  Mr 
Mortimer  having  informed  her  that  such  was  always  the 
custom  among  great  people,  who,  not  ordering  their  own 
dinners,  of  course  they  could  not  tell  what  there  was  to 
eat. 

"  Mrs  Turnbull,  what  soup  have  you  there  .<*  " 

"  Consummy  soup,  my  lord.  Will  your  lordship  make 
use  of  that  or  of  this  here,  which  is  djussT 

His  lordship  stared,  made  no  answer  ;  looked  foolish  j 
and  Mr  Mortimer  placed  some  soup  before  him. 


Jacob  Faithful  141 

*•  Lord  Babbletoa  takes  soup,"  said  Mr  Smith,  pomp- 
ously J  and  the  little  right  honourable  supped  soup,  much 
to  Mrs  Turnbuli's  satisfaction. 

"  Madame,  do  you  soup  ?  or  do  you  fish  ?  " 

*'  Merci,  no  soup — polsson.^'' 

"Don't  be  afraid,  Madame  ;  we've  a  French  cook  ;  you 
won't  be  poisoned  here,"  replied  Mrs  Turnbull,  rather 
annoyed. 

"  Comment,  my  chere  Madame,  I  mean  to  say  dat  I 
prefer  de  cod." 

**  Mr  T.,  some  iish  for  Madame.  John,  a  clean  plate  for 
Lord  Babbleton.  What  will  your  lordship  condescend  to 
niake  use  of  now  ?  "  (Mrs  Turnbull  thought  the  phrase, 
make  use,  excessively  refined  and  elegant.) 

"  Ah  !  Madame,  votre  cuisine  est  superbe,"  exclaimed 
Monsieur  Tagliabue,  tucking  the  corner  of  his  napkin  into 
his  button-hole,  and  making  preparations  for  well  filling 
his  little  rotundity. 

"  Fi?,"  replied  Mrs  Turnbull.  "  Mrs  Peters,  will  you 
try  the  dish  next  Mr  Turnbull  }  What  is  it  ?  "  (looking  at 
her  card) — '^  Agno  roty.  Will  you,  my  lord  .''  If  your 
lordship  has  not  yet  got  into  your  French — it  means  roast 
quarter  of  lamb." 

"  His  lordship  is  very  partial  to  lamb,"  said  Mr  Smith, 
with  emphasis. 

"  Mr  Turnbull,  some  lamb  for  Lord  Babbleton,  and  for 
Mr  Peters." 

"  Directly,  my  dear. — Well,  Jacob,  you  see,  when  I  was 
first  mate " 

"Dear!  Mr  Turnbull — I've  such  an  'eadache.  Do,  pray, 
cut  the  lamb.  {Aside).  Mr  Mortimer,  do  go  and  whisper 
to  Mr  Turnbull  that  I  beg  he  will  put  on  his  gloves." 
'  "  Mrs  Peters,  you're  doing  nothing.  Mr  Mortimer, 
'and  round  the  side  dishes,  and  let  John  serve  out  the 
champagne." 

"  Mrs  Peters,  there's  a  wolley  nuent  0'  iveaters.  Will  you 
make  use  of  some  ?  Mrs  Drummond,  will  you  try  the 
dish  coming  round  }     It  is — let  me  see — it  is  chenv  farsy 


142  Jacob  Faithful 

My  Lord  Babbleton,  I  'ope  the  lamb's  to  your  liking'^ 
Monshere  Tagliabue — William,  give  Monshere  a  cleaa 
plate.     What  will  you  take  next  ?  " 

"Vraiment,  Madame,  tout  est  excellent,  superbe  !  Je 
voudrais  embrasser  votre  cuisinier — c'est  un  artiste  comme 
il  n'y  a  pas  ?  " 

"  Ve,''  replied  Mrs  Turnbull. 

The  first  course  was  removed  j  and  the  second,  after 
some  delay,  made  its  appearance.  In  the  interim,  Mr 
Mortimer  handed  round  one  or  two  varieties  of  wine. 

"  Drummond,  will  you  take  a  glass  of  wine  with  me  ?  " 
said  Mr  Turnbull.  "  I  hate  your  sour  French  wines. 
Will  you  take  Madeira  ?  I  was  on  shore  at  Madeira  once, 
for  a  few  hours,  when  I  was  before  the  mast,  in  the " 

"  Mr  Turnbull,  I've  such  an  'eadache,"  cried  his  lady, 
in  an  angry  tone.  "  My  lord,  will  you  take  some  of  this  ? 
— it  is — a  ding  dong  o'  turf— 2.  turkey,  my  lord." 

"  His  lordship  is  fond  of  turkey,"  said  Mr  Smith,  dic- 
tatorially. 

Monsieur  Tagliabue,  who  sat  on  the  other  side  of  Mrs 
T.,  found  that  the  turkey  was  in  request — it  was  some 
time  before  he  could  help  himself. 

"  C'est  superbe  !  "  said  Monsieur,  thrusting  a  truffle  into 
his  mouth.  "  Apparemment,  Madame  n'aime  pas  la  cuisine 
Anglaise  ? " 

*'  F>,"  replied  Mrs  Turnbull.  "  Madame,  what  will 
you  be  /?>assisted  to  ? "  continued  Mrs  T. 

"  Tout  de  bon,  Madame." 

«<  Ye;  what  are  those  by  you,  Mr  Peters  ?"  inquired  the 
lady  in  continuation. 

"  I  really  cannot  exactly  say ;  but  they  are  fritters  of 
some  sort." 

"  Let  me  see — hoh  !  bidet  du  poms.  Madame,  will  you 
eat  some  bidet  du  poms  f  " 

"  Comment,  Madame,  je  ne  vous  comprends  pas " 

'« Fe:' 

"  Monsieur  Tagliabue,  expliquez  done ; "  said  the 
foreign  lady,  red  as  a  quarter  of  beef. 


Jacob  Faithful  143 

**Permettez,"  said  Monsieur,  looking  at  the  card.  "Ah, 
c'est  impossible,  ma  chere,"  continued  he,  laughing.  "Ma- 
dame Turnbull  se  trompait ;  elle  voudrait  dire  Beignets  de 

"  Vous  trouvez  notre  langue  fort  difficile,  n'est-ce  pas?" 
continued  Madame,  who  recovered  her  good  humour,  and 
smiled  graciously  at  Mrs  T. 

"/^^,"  replied  Mrs  Turnbull,  who  perceived  that  she  had 
made  some  mistake,  and  was  anxiously  awaiting  the  issue 
of  the  dialogue.  It  had,  however,  the  effect  of  checking 
Mrs  T.,  who  said  little  more  during  the  dinner  and 
dessert. 

At  last  the  ladies  rose  from  the  dessert,  and  left  the 
gentlemen  at  the  table :  but  we  were  not  permitted  to 
remain  long,  before  coffee  was  announced,  and  we  went 
up  stairs.  A  variety  of  French  liqueurs  were  handed 
about,  and  praised  by  most  of  the  company.  Mr  Turnbull, 
however,  ordered  a  glass  of  brandy,  as  a  settler. 

"  Oh  !  Mr  Turnbull,  I've  such  an  'eadache  !  " 

After  that  the  party  became  very  dull.  Lord  Babbleton 
fell  asleep  on  the  sofa.  Mr  Peters  walked  round  the  room, 
admiring  the  pictures  and  asking  the  names  of  the  masters. 

"  I  really  quite  forget ;  but  Mr  Drummond,  you  are  a 
judge  of  paintings,  I  hear.  Who  do  you  think  this  is 
painted  by  ? "  said  the  lady,  pointing  to  a  very  inferior 
performance.  "  I  am  not  quite  sure  ;  but  I  think  it  is 
Van— Van  Daubr 

"  I  should  think  so  too,"  replied  Mr  Drummond,  drily  ; 
**  we  have  a  great  many  pictures  in  England,  by  the  same 
hand." 

The  French  gentleman  proposed  ecarte,  but  no  one 
knew  how  to  play  it  except  his  wife ;  who  sat  down  with 
him  to  pass  away  the  time.  The  ladies  sauntered  about 
the  room,  looking  at  the  contents  of  the  tables,  Mrs  Peters 
occasionally  talking  of  Petercumb  Hall ;  Mr  Smith  played 
at  patience  in  one  corner;  while  Mr  Turnbull  and  Mr 
Drummond  sat  in  another  in  close  conversation ;  and  the 
lady  of  the  house  divided  her  attentions,  running  from  one 


144  Jacob  Faithful 

to  the  other,  and  requesting  them  not  to  talk  so  loud  as  to 
awake  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Viscount  Eabbleton.  At 
last  the  vehicles  were  announced,  and  the  fashionable 
party  broke  up,  much  to  the  satisfaction  of  everybody,  and 
to  none  more  than  myself. 

I  ought  to  observe  that  all  the  peculiar  absurdities  I 
have  narrated  did  not  strike  me  so  much  at  the  time  j  but 
it  was  an  event  to  me  to  dine  out,  and  the  scene  was  well 
impressed  upon  my  memory.  After  what  occurred  to  me 
in  my  after  life,  and  when  I  became  better  able  to  judge 
of  fashionable  pretensions,  the  whole  was  vividly  brought 
back  to  my  recollection. 


Chapter  XVII 

The  Tomkinses'  fete  champetre  and  fete  dansante — lights  among  the  goose- 
berry-bushes— all  went  off  well,  excepting  the  lights,  they  went  out — a 
winding  up  that  had  nearly  proved  a  catastrophe — Old  Tom  proves  that 
danger  makes  friends  by  a  yarn,  Young  Tom  by  a  fact. 

I  REMAINED  With  Mr  Dmmmond  about  eight  months,  when 
at  last  the  new  clerk  made  his  appearance — a  little  fat 
fellow,  about  twenty,  with  a  face  as  round  as  a  full  moon, 
thick  lips,  and  red  cheeks.  During  this  time  I  frequently 
had  the  pleasure  of  meeting  with  old  and  young  Tom,  who 
appeared  very  anxious  that  I  should  rejoin  them ;  and  I 
must  say  that  I  was  equally  willing  to  return  to  the  lighter. 
Still  Mr  Drummond  put  his  veto  on  it,  and  Mrs  Drummond 
was  also  constantly  pointing  out  the  very  desirable  situation 
I  might  have  on  shore  as  a  clerk  in  the  office ;  but  I  could 
not  bear  it — seated  nearly  the  whole  day — perched  up  on  a 
high  stool — turning  over  Dr.,  contra  Cr.,  and  only  occasion- 
ally interrupted  by  the  head  clerk,  with  his  attempt  to  make 
rhymes.  "When  the  new  clerk  came,  I  expected  my  release, 
but  I  was  disappointed.  Mr  Drummond  discovered  him  to 
be  so  awkward,  and  the  head  clerk  declared  that  the  time 
was  so  busy,  that  he  could  not  spare  me.     This  was  true  5 


Jacob  Faithful  145 

Mr  Di"ummond  had  just  come  to  a  final  arrangement,  which 
had  been  some  time  pending,  by  which  he  purchased  a 
wharf  and  large  warehouses,  with  a  house  adjoining  in 
Lower  Thames  Street — a  very  large  concern,  for  which  he 
had  paid  a  considerable  sum  of  money.  What  with  the 
valuations,  winding  up  of  the  Brentford  concern  on  the  old 
account,  &c.,  there  was  much  to  do,  and  I  toiled  at  the 
desk  until  the  removal  took  place ;  and  when  the  family 
were  removed,  I  was  still  detained,  as  there  was  no  ware- 
houseman to  superintend  the  unloading  and  hoisting  up  of 
goods.  Mr  Tomkins,  the  head  clerk,  who  had  been  many 
years  a  faithful  servant  to  Mr  Drummond,  was  admitted  as 
a  partner,  and  had  charge  of  the  Brentford  wharf,  a  species 
of  promotion  which  he  and  his  wife  resolved  to  celebrate 
with  a  party.  After  a  long  debate,  it  was  resolved  that 
they  should  give  a  ball,  and  Mrs  Tomkins  exerted  all  her 
taste  and  ingenuity  on  the  occasion.  My  friend  Tomkins 
lived  at  a  short  distance  from  the  premises,  in  a  small 
house,  surrounded  with  half  an  acre  of  garden,  chiefly 
filled  with  gooseberry-bushes,  and  perambulated  by  means 
of  four  straight  gravel  walks.  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond 
were  invited,  and  accepted  the  invitation,  which  was  con- 
sidered by  the  Tomkinses  as  a  great  mark  of  condescension. 
As  a  specimen  of  Mr  Tomkins'  poetical  talents,  I  shall  give 
his  invitation  to  Mr  Drummond,  written  in  the  very  best 
German  text : — 

"  Mr  and  Mrs  T — 
Sincerely  hope  to  see 
Mr  and  Mrs  Drum- 
Mond,  to  a  very  hum- 
Ble  party  that  they  in- 
Tend  to  ask  their  kin 
To,  on  the  Saturday 
Of  the  week  ensuing ; 
When  fiddles  they  will  play, 
And  other  things  be  doing." 
«« Belle  Vue  Houie." 

To  which  Jeu  d'esprit  Mr  Drummond  answered  with  a 
pencil  on  a  card — 

J.F.  K 


146  Jacob  Faithful 

«  Mr  and  Mrs  Drum- 
Mond  intend  to  come. " 

"  Here,  give  Tomkias  that,  Jacob  1,  it  will  please  him 
better  than  any  formal  acceptation."  Mr  and  Mrs  Turn- 
bull  were  also  asked :  the  former  accepted,  but  the  latter 
indignantly  refused. 

When  I  arrived  with  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond  many  of 
the  company  were  there  j  the  garden  was  what  they  called 
illuminated,  that  is,  every  gooseberry-bush  had  one  varie- 
gated lamp  suspended  about  the  centre  ;  and,  as  Mr 
Tomkins  told  me  afterwards,  the  lamps  were  red  and 
yellow,  according  to  the  fruit  they  bore.  It  was  a  cold, 
frosty,  clear  night,  and  the  lamps  twinkled  as  brightly 
among  the  bare  boughs  of  the  gooseberry  trees  as  the  stars 
did  in  the  heavens.  The  company  in  general  were  quite 
charmed  with  the  novelty.  "  Quite  .a  minor  Wauxhall,^^ 
cried  one  lady,  whose  exuberance  of  fat  kept  her  warm 
enough  to  allow  her  to  stare  about  in  the  open  air.  The 
entrance  porch  had  a  dozen  little  lamps,  backed  with  laurel 
twigs,  and  looked  very  imposing.  Mrs  Tomkins  received 
her  company  upon  the  steps  outside,  that  she  might  have 
the  pleasure  of  hearing  their  praises  of  her  external 
arrangements ;  still  it  was  freezing,  and  she  shivered  not  a 
little.  The  drawing-room,  fourteen  feet  by  ten,  was  fitted 
up  as  a  ball-room,  with  two  fiddlers  and  a  fifer  sitting  in  a 
corner,  and  a  country-dance  was  performing  when  we 
arrived.  Over  the  mantel-piece  was  a  square  of  laurel 
twigs,  enclosing  as  a  frame,  this  couplet,  from  the  poetical 
brain  of  the  master  of  the  house,  cut  out  in  red  paper,  and 
bespangled  with  blue  and  yellow  tinsel — 

*'  Here  we  are  to  dance  so  gay, 
While  the  fiddlers  play  away." 

Other  appropriate  distichs,  which  I  have  now  forgotten, 
were  framed  in  the  same  way  on  each  of  the  other  com- 
partments. But  the  dining-room  was  the  chef  cToeuvre, 
It  was  formed  into  a  bower,  with  evergreens,  and  on  the 


Jacob  Faithful  147 

evergreen  boughs  were  stuck  real  apples  and  oranges  in  all 
directions,  so  that  you  could  help  yourself. 

"  Veil,  I  do  declare,  this  is  a  paradise  !  "  exclaimed  the 
fat  lady  who  entered  with  me. 

"  In  all  but  one  thing,  ma^am,"  replied  Mr  TurnbuU, 
who,  with  his  coat  off,  was  squeezing  lemons  for  the  punch 
— "  there's  no  forbidden  fruit.     You  may  help  yourself." 

This  bon-mot  was  repeated  by  Mr  Tomkins  to  the  end 
of  his  existence,  not  only  for  its  own  sake,  but  because  it 
gave  him  an  opportunity  of  entering  into  a  detail  of  the 
vfhole  fete — the  first  he  had  ever  given  in  his  life.  "  Ah, 
Jacob,  my  boy,  glad  to  see  you — come  and  help  here — 
they'll  soon  be  thirsty,  I'll  warrant,"  said  Mr  Turnbull, 
who  was  in  his  glory.  The  company,  although  not  so 
very  select,  were  very  happy  ;  they  danced,  drank  punch, 
laughed,  and  danced  again ;  and  it  was  not  till  a  late 
hour,  long  after  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond  had  gone  home, 
that  I  quitted  the  "  festive  scene  ; "  Mr  Turnbull,  who 
walked  away  with  me,  declaring  that  it  was  worth  a  dozen 
of  his  party,  although  they  had  not  such  grand  people  as 
Mrs  Tagliabue,  or  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Viscount 
Babbleton.  I  thought  so  too  ;  every  one  was  happy,  and 
every  one  at  their  ease ;  and  I  do  believe  they  would  have 
stayed  much  longer,  but  the  musicians  took  so  much 
punch  that  one  fiddler  broke  his  fiddle,  the  other  broke 
his  head  in  going  down  the  steps  into  the  garden,  and  the 
fifer  swore  he  could  blow  no  longer  ;  so,  as  there  was  an 
end  to  the  music,  clogs,  pattens,  and  lanterns  were  called 
for,  the  shawls  were  brought  out  of  the  kitchen,  and  every 
one  went  away.  Nothing  could  go  off  better.  Mrs  Tomkins 
had  a  cold  and  rheumatism  the  next  day  ;  but  that  was 
not  surprising,  a  minor  Wauxhall  not  being  seasonable  in 
the  month  of  December. 

A  week  after  this  party,  we  removed  to  Thames  Street, 
and  I  performed  the  duty  of  warehouseman.  Our  quantity 
of  lighters  was  now  much  increased,  and  employed  in 
carrying  dry  goods,  &c.  One  morning  old  Tom  came 
under  the  crane  to  discharge  his  lighter,  and  wishing  to 


148  Jacob  Faithful 

see  me,  when  the  fall  had  been  overhauled  down,  to  heave 
up  the  casks  with  which  the  lighter  was  laden,  instead  of 
hooking  on  a  cask,  held  on  by  his  hands,  crying,  "  Hoist 
away,"  intending  to  be  hoisted  himself  up  to  the  floor  of 
the  warehouse  where  I  was  presiding.  Now,  there  was 
nothing  unusual  in  this  whim  of  old  Tom's,  but  still  he 
ran  a  very  narrow  chance,  in  consequence  of  an  extra 
whim  of  young  Tom's,  who,  as  soon  as  his  father  was 
suspended  in  the  air,  caught  hold  of  his  two  wooden 
stumps,  to  be  hoisted  up  also  ;  and  as  he  caught  hold  of 
them,  standing  on  tiptoe,  they  both  swung  clear  of  the 
lighter,  which  could  not  approach  to  within  five  feet  of 
the  buildings.  The  crane  was  on  the  third  story  of  the 
warehouse,  and  very  high  up.  "  Tom,  Tom  you  rascal, 
what  the  devil  are  you  about  ? "  cried  the  old  man,  when 
he  felt  the  weight  of  his  son's  body  hanging  to  him. 

*'  Going  up  along  with  you,  father — hope  we  shall  go 
to  heaven  the  same  way." 

*'  More  likely  to  go  to  the  devil  together,  you  little  fool ; 
I  never  can  bear  your  weight.     Hoist  away,  there,  quick." 

Hearing  the  voices,  I  looked  out  of  the  door,  and  per- 
ceiving their  situation,  ordered  the  men  to  hoist  as  fast  as 
they  could,  before  old  Tom's  strength  should  be  exhausted ; 
but  it  was  a  compound  movement  crane,  and  we  could  not 
hoist  very  fast,  although  we  could  hoist  very  great  weights. 
At  last,  as  they  were  wound  up  higher  and  higher,  old 
Tom's  strength  was  going  fast.  *'  O  Tom,  Tom,  what 
must  be  done  ?  I  can't — I  can't  hold  on  but  a  little  longer, 
and  we  shall  be  both  dashed  to  pieces.     My  poor  boy  !  " 

"  Well  then,  I'll  let  go,  father  ;  it  was  all  my  folly,  and 
I'll  be  the  sufferer." 

"  Let  go  !  "  cried  old  Tom  ;  "  no,  no,  Tom — don't  let 
go,  my  boy  ;  I'll  try  a  little  longer.  Don't  let  go,  my  dear 
boy — don't  let  go  !  " 

"  Well,  father,  how  much  longer  can  you  hold  on  ?" 

**  A  little — very  little  longer,"  replied  the  old  man, 
strugghng. 

*'  Well,  hold  fast  now,"  cried  young  Tom,  who,  raising 


Jacob  Faithful  149 

his  head  above  his  arms,  with  a  great  exertion  shifted  one 
of  his  hands  to  his  father's  thigh,  then  the  other  j  raising 
himself  as  before,  he  then  caught  at  the  seat  of  his  father's 
trousers  with  his  teeth  ;  old  Tom  groaned,  for  his  son  had 
taken  hold  of  more  than  the  garments  ;  he  then  shifted 
his  hands  round  his  father's  body — from  thence  he  gained 
the  collar  of  his  jacket — from  the  collar  he  climbed  on  his 
father's  shoulders,  from  thence  he  seized  hold  of  the  fall 
above,  and  relieved  his  father  of  the  weight.  "  Now, 
father,  are  you  all  right  ? "  cried  Tom,  panting  as  he  clung 
to  the  fall  above  him. 

**  I  can't  hold  on  ten  seconds  more,  Tom — no  longer — 
my  clutch  is  going  now." 

"  Hang  on  by  your  eyelids,  father,  if  you  love  me," 
cried  young  Tom,  in  agony. 

It  was  indeed  an  awful  moment ;  they  were  now  at 
least  sixty  feet  above  the  lighter,  suspended  in  the  air ; 
the  men  whirled  round  the  wheel,  and  I  had  at  last  the 
pleasure  of  hauling  them  both  in  on  the  floor  of  the  ware- 
house ;  the  old  man  so  exhausted  that  he  could  not  speak 
for  more  than  a  minute.  Young  Tom,  as  soon  as  all 
was  safe,  laughed  immoderately.  Old  Tom  sat  upright. 
"  It  might  have  been  no  laughing  matter,  Mr  Tom,"  said 
he,  looking  at  his  son. 

"  What's  done  can't  be  helped,  father,  as  Jacob  says. 
After  all,  you're  more  frightened  than  hurt." 

"  I  don't  know  that,  you  young  scamp,"  replied  the  old 
man,  putting  his  hand  behind  him,  and  rubbing  softly  ; 
you've  bit  a  piece  clean  out  of  my  starn.  Now,  let  this  be 
a  warning  to  you,  Tom.  Jacob,  my  boy,  couldn't  you  say 
that  I've  met  with  an  accident,  and  get  a  drop  of  something 
from  Mr  Drummond  ? " 

I  thought,  after  his  last  observation,  I  might  honestly 
say  that  he  had  met  with  an  accident,  and  I  soon  returned 
with  a  glass  of  brandy,  which  old  Tom  was  drinking  off, 
when  his  son  interruped  him  for  a  share. 

"  You  know,  father,  I  shared  the  danger." 

•*  Yes,  Tom,  I  know  you  did,"  replied  the  father  j  "  but 


150  Jacob  Faithful 

this  was  sent  to  me  on  account  of  my  accident^  and  as  I  had 
that  all  to  myself,  I  shall  have  all  this  too." 

"  But,  father,  you  ought  to  give  me  a  drop,  if  it  were 
only  to  take  the  taste  out  of  my  mouths 

"  Your  own  flesh  and  blood,  Tom,"  replied  his  father, 
emptying  his  glass. 

"  Well,  I  always  heard  it  was  quite  unnatural  not  to  like 
your  own  flesh  and  blood,"  replied  Tom  :  **  but  I  see  now 
that  there  may  be  reasons  for  it." 

"  Be  content,  Tom,"  replied  his  father,  putting  down 
the  glass  :  *'  we're  now  just  square.  You've  had  your  raw 
nip,  and  I've  had  mine." 

Mr  Drummond  now  came  up,  and  asked  what  had  been 
the  matter.  "Nothing,  sir — only  an  accident.  Tom  and 
I  had  a  bit  of  a  hoist P 

As  this  last  word  had  a  double  meaning,  Mr  Drummond 
thought  that  a  cask  had  surged,  when  coming  out  of  the 
lighter,  and  struck  them  down.  He  desired  old  Tom  to 
be  more  careful,  and  walked  away,  while  we  proceeded  to 
unload  the  lighter.  The  new  clerk  was  a  very  heavy, 
simple  young  man,  plodding  and  attentive  certainly,  but  he 
had  no  other  merit ;  he  was  sent  into  the  lighter  to  take 
the  marks  and  numbers  of  the  casks  as  they  were  hoisted 
up,  and  soon  became  a  butt  to  young  Tom,  who  gave  him 
the  wrong  marks  and  numbers  of  all  the  casks,  to  his 
interrogations. 

"What's  that,  boy?"  cried  the  pudding-faced  fellow, 
with  his  pencil  in  one  hand,  and  his  book  in  the  other. 

"Pea  soup,  13,"  replied  Tom;  "ladies'  bonnets,  24. 
Now,  then,  master,  chalk  again,  pipe-clay  for  sodgers,  3  ; 
red  herrings,  26."  All  of  which  were  carefully  noted  down 
by  Mr  Gubbins,  who,  when  the  lighter  was  cleared,  took 
the  memoranda  to  Mr  Drummond. 

Fortunately,  we  had  checked  the  number  of  the  casks  as 
they  were  received  above — their  contents  were  flour.  Mr 
Drummond  sent  for  young  Tom,  and  asked  him  how  he 
dared  play  such  a  trick.  Tom  repHed  very  boldly,  "  that 
it  was  meant  as  a  good  lesson  to  the  young  man,  that  in 


Jacob  Faithful  151 

future  he  did  his  own  work,  and  did  not  trust  to  others." 
To  this  Mr  Drnmmond  agreed,  and  Master  Tom  was 
dismissed  without  punishment. 

As  the  men  had  all  gone  to  dinner,  I  went  down  into 
the  lighter  to  have  a  little  chat  with  my  old  shipmates. 
"  Well,  Jacob,"  said  old  Tom,^  *'  Tom's  not  a  bit  wiser 
than  he  was  before — two  scrapes  to-day,  already." 

"  Well,  father,  if  I  prove  my  folly  by  getting  into 
scrapes,  I  prove  my  wit  by  getting  out  of  them." 

"  Yes,  that  may  be  true,  Tom ;  but  suppose  we  had 
both  come  down  with  a  run,  what  would  you  have 
thought  then  ?  " 

**  I  suspect,  father,  that  I  should  have  been  past  all 
thinking." 

'*  I  once  did  see  a  thing  of  that  kind  happen,"  said  old 
Tom,  calling  to  mind  former  scenes  in  his  life ;  "  and  I'll 
tell  you  a  yarn  about  it,  boys,  because  they  say  danger 
makes  friends."  Tom  and  I  sat  down  by  old  Tom,  who 
narrated  as  follows  : — 

"  When  I  was  captain  of  the  maintop  in  the  La 
Minerve,  forty-four  gun  frigate,  we  were  the  smartest 
ship  up  the  Mediterranean ;  and  many's  the  exercise  we 
were  the  means  of  giving  to  other  ships'  companies, 
because  they  could  not  beat  us — no,  not  even  hold  a 
candle  to  us.  In  both  fore  and  main  top  we  had  eight 
and  twenty  as  smart  chaps  as  ever  put  their  foot  to  a 
rattling,  or  slid  down  by  an  a'ter  backstay.  Now,  the 
two  captains  of  the  foretop  were  both  prime  young  men, 
active  as  monkeys,  and  bold  as  lions.  One  was  named 
Tom  Herbert,  from  North  Shields,  a  dark,  good-looking 
chap,  with  teeth  as  white  as  a  nigger's,  and  a  merry  chap 
he  was,  always  a  showing  them.  The  other  was  a 
cockney  chap.  Your  Lunnuners  arn't  often  good  seamen  ; 
but  when  they  are  seamen,  there's  no  better ;  they  never 
allow  anyone  to  show  them  the  way,  that's  for  sartain, 
being  naturally  spunky  sort  of  chaps,  and  full  of  tricks 
and  fun.  This  fellow's  name  was  Bill  Wiggins,  and 
between  him  and   Herbert   there  was  always   a  jealousy 


152  Jacob  Faithful 

who  should  be  the  smartest  man.     I've  seen  both  of  them 
run  out  on  the  yard,  in  fine  weather,  without  holding  on 
nothing,  seize  the  lift,  and  down  to  their  station,  haul  up 
the  earing,  in  no  time  ;  up  by  the  lift  again,  and  down  on 
deck,  by  the  backstay,  before  half  the  men  had  time  to 
get  clear  of  the  top.     In  fact,  they  often  risked  their  lives 
in  bad  weather,  when  there  was  no  occasion  for  it,  that 
one  might  outdo  the  other.     Now,  this  was  all  very  well, 
and  a  good  example  to  the  other  men :    the  captain  and 
officers  appeared  to    like    these    contests    for  superiority, 
but  it  ended  in  their  hating  each  other,  and  not  being  even 
on  speaking  terms,  which,  as  the  two  captains  of  the  top, 
was    bad.     They  had    quarrelled   often,  and    fought   five 
times,  neither  proving  the  better  man ;  either  both  done 
up,  or  parted  by  the  master-at-arms,  and  reported  to  the 
first  lieutenant,  so  that   at  last   they  were   not   so  much 
countenanced  by  the  officers,  and  were  out  of  favour  with 
the  captain,  who  threatened  to  disrate  them  both  if  ever 
they   fought   again.     We  were  cruising  off  the   Gulf  of 
Lyons,  where  sometimes  it   blows  hard  enough  to  blow 
the   devil's   horns  off,  though    the    gales   never  last  very 
long.      We   were    under    close    reefed    fore    and    main- 
top   sail,   storm    staysail  and    trysail,   when    there  was   a 
fresh  hand  at  the    bellows,  and    the   captain  desired  the 
officers  of  the  watch,  just  before  dinner,  to  take  in  the 
fore-top  sail.     Not  to  disturb  the  watch  below,  the  main- 
top men  were  ordered  up  forward,  to  help  the  fore-top 
men  of  the  watch  5  and  I  was  of  course  aloft,  ready  to 
lie  out  on  the  lee  yard-arm — when  Wiggins,  who  had  the 
watch  below,  came  up  in  the  top,  not  liking  that  Herbert 
should    be  at   work  in   such  weather,  without  he   being 
there  too. 

"  '  Tom,'  says  Wiggins  to  me,  *  I'll  take  the  yard-arm.' 
" '  Very  well,'   says  I,    *  with   all   my  heart,  then  I'll 
look  to  the  bunt.' 

"  Just  at  that  time  there  came  on  a  squall  with  rain, 
which  almost  blinded  us ;  the  sail  was  taken  in  very 
neatly,  the  clewlines,  chock-a-block,  bunt-lines  and  leech- 


Jacob  Faithful  153 

lines  well  up,  reef-tackles  overhauled,  rolling  tackles  taut, 
and  all  as  it  should  be.  The  men  lied  out  on  the  yard, 
the  squall  wore  worse  and  worse,  but  they  were  handing 
in  the  leech  of  the  sail,  when  snap  went  one  bunt-line, 
then  the  other,  the  sail  flapped  and  flagged,  till  away  went 
the  leech-lines,  and  the  men  clung  to  the  yards  for  their 
lives ;  for  the  sail  mastered  them,  and  they  could  do 
nothing.  At  last  it  split  like  thunder,  buffeting  the  men 
on  the  yard-arms,  till  they  were  almost  senseless,  until  to 
windward  it  wore  away  into  long  coach-whips,  and  the 
whole  of  the  canvas  left  was  at  the  lee  yard-arm.  The 
men  laid  in  at  last  with  great  difficulty,  quite  worn  out  by 
fatigue  and  clinging  for  their  existence  j  all  but  Wiggins, 
who  was  barred  by  the  sail  to  leeward  from  making  his 
footing  good  on  the  horse ;  and  there  he  was,  poor 
fellow,  completely  in  irons,  and  so  beaten  by  the  canvas 
that  he  could  hardly  be  said  to  be  sensible.  It  takes  a 
long  while  to  tell  all  this,  but  it  wasn't  the  work  of  a 
minute.  At  last  he  made  an  attempt  to  get  up  by  the 
lift,  but  was  struck  down,  and  would  have  been  hurled 
overboard,  if  it  hadn't  been  that  his  leg  fell  over  the 
horse,  and  there  he  was  head  downwards,  hanging  over  a 
raging  sea,  ready  to  swallow  him  up  as  soon  as  he  dropt 
into  it.  As  every  one  expected  he  would  be  beat  off 
before  any  assistance  could  be  given,  you  may  guess  that 
it  was  an  awful  moment  to  those  below  who  were  looking 
up  at  him,  watching  for  his  fall  and  the  roll  of  the  ship, 
to  see  if  he  fell  clear  into  the  sea,  or  was  dashed  to  pieces 
in  the  fore-chains. 

"  I  couldn't  bear  to  see  a  fellow-creature,  and  good 
seaman  in  the  bargain,  in  that  state,  and  although  the 
captain  dare  not  order  any  one  to  help  him,  yet  there  were 
one  or  two  midshipmen  hastening  up  the  fore-rigging, 
with  the  intent,  I  have  no  doubt,  of  trying  to  save  him 
(for  midshipmen  don't  value  their  lives  at  a  quid  of 
tobacco),  so  I  seizes  the  studding  sail  halyards,  and  runs 
up  the  topmast  rigging,  intending  to  go  down  by  the 
lift,  and  pass  a  bowling  knot  round  him  before  he  fell, 


154  Jacob  Faithful 

when  who  should  I  meet  at  the  cross-trees  but  Tom 
Herbert,  who  snatched  the  rope  out  of  my  hand,  bawling 
to  me  through  the  gale,  *  This  is  my  business,  Tom.' 

"Down  he  goes  by  the  lift,  the  remainder  of  the 
canvas  flapped  over  him,  and  I  seed  no  more  until  I  heard 
a  cry  from  all  below,  and  away  went  Herbert  and  Wiggins, 
both  together,  flying  to  leeward  just  as  th€  ship  was 
taking  her  recovery  to  windward.  Fortunately  they  both 
fell  clear  of  the  ship  about  two  feet,  not  more,  and  as 
their  fall  was  expected,  they  had  prepared  below.  A 
master's  mate,  of  the  name  of  Simmonds,  and  the  captain 
of  the  forecastle,  both  went  overboard  in  bowling  knots, 
with  another  in  their  hands,  and  in  a  minute  or  two  they 
were  all  four  on  board  again ;  but  Herbert  and  Wiggins 
were  both  senseless,  and  a  long  while  coming  to  again. 
Well,  now,  what  do  you  think  was  the  upshot  of  it  ? 
Why,  they  were  the  best  friends  in  the  world  ever  after- 
wards, and  would  have  died  for  one  another ;  and  if  one 
had  a  glass  of  grog  from  the  officers  for  any  little  job, 
instead  of  touching  his  forelock  and  drinking  it  off  to  the 
officer's  health,  he  always  took  it  out  of  the  gun-room, 
that  he  might  give  half  of  it  to  the  other.  So,  d'ye  see, 
my  boys,  as  I  said  before  I  began  my  yarn,  that  danger 
makes  friends. 

'•  'Tis  said  we  ventrous  die  hard, 

When  we  leave  the  shore, 
Our  friends  may  mourn,  lest  we  return 

To  bless  their  sight  no  more. 
But  this  is  all  a  notion 

Bold  Jack  can't  understand  ; 
Some  die  upon  the  ocean, 

And  some  die  upon  dry  land." 

"  And  if  we  had  tumbled,  father,  we  should  have  just 
died  betwixt  and  between,  not  water  enough  to  float  us. 
It  would  have  been  ivoo/ez  nvous  parlez  nvous,  plump  in  the 
mud,  as  you  say  sometimes." 

"  Why,  yes,  Tom.  I've  a  notion  that  I  should  have 
been  planted  too  deep,  ever  to  have  struck  root,"  replied 
the  old  man,  looking  at  his  wooden  stumps. 


Jacob  Faithful  155 

"Why  yes,  father,  legs  are  legs,  when  you  tumble  into 
six  foot  of  mud.  How  you  would  have  dibbled  down,  if 
your  daddies  hadn't  held  on." 

"Well  then,  Tom,  recollect  that  you  never  sell  your 
father  for  a  lark  again." 

Tom  laughed,  and  catching  at  the  word,  although  used 
in  a  different  sense,  sung, 

"  Just  like  the  lari,  high  poised  in  air. 
**  And  so  were  you,  father,  only  you   didn't   sing  as  he 
does,  and  you  didn't  leave  your  young  one  below  in  the 
nest." 

"  Ay,  it  is  the  young  uns  which  prevent  the  old  ones 
from  rising  in  the  world — that's  very  true,  Tom.  Holloa, 
who  have  we  got  here  ?     My  service  to  you,  at  all  events." 


Chapter    XVIII 

The  art  of  hard  lying  made  easy,  though  I  am  made  very  uneasy  by  hard 
lying — I  send  my  ruler  as  a  missive,  to  let  the  parties  concerned  know, 
that  I  am  a  rebel  to  tyrannical  rule — I  am  arraigned,  tried,  and  con- 
demned without  a  hearing — What  I  lose  in  speech  is  made  up  in  feeling, 
the  whole  wound  up  with  magnanimous  resolves,  and  a  little  sobbing. 

It  was  the  captain  of  the  American  schooner,  from  out 
of  M'hich  we  were  then  taking  the  casks  of  flour. 

"  We've  no  service  in  our  country,  I've  a  notion,  my 
old  bobtail  roarer,"  said  he.  "  When  do  you  come  along- 
side of  my  schooner,  for  t'other  lading,  with  this  raft  of 
yours  ?     Not  to-night,  I  guess." 

"Well,  you've  guessed  right  this  time,"  replied  old 
Tom,  "  we  shall  lie  on  the  mud  till  to-morrow  morning, 
with  your  permission." 

"  Yes,  for  all  the  world  like  a  Louisiana  alligator. 
You  take  things  coolly,  I've  a  notion,  in  the  old  country. 
I  don't  want  to  be  hanging  head  and  starn  in  this  little 
bit  of  a  river  of  your'n.  I  must  be  back  to  New  York 
afore  fever  time." 


156  Jacob  Faithful 

*'  She  be  a  pretty  craft,  that  little  thing  of  yours," 
observed  old  Tom ;  *'  how  long  may  she  take  to  make 
the  run  ?  " 

"How  long?  I  expect  in  just  no  time;  and  she'd  go 
as  fast  again,  only  she  won't  wait  for  the  breeze  to  come 
up  with  her." 

"  Why  don't  you  heave-to  for  it  ?  "  said  young  Tom. 

**  Lose  too  much  time,  I  guess.  I've  been  chased  by 
an  easterly  wind  all  the  way  from  your  Land's  End  to 
our  Narrows,  and  it  never  could  overhaul  me." 

**  And  I  presume  the  porpoises  give  it  up  in  despair, 
don't  they?"  replied  old  Tom,  with  a  leer;  "and  yet 
I've  seen  the  creatures  playing  across  the  bows  of  an 
English  frigate  at  her  speed,  and  laughing  at  her." 

"They  never  play  their  tricks  with  me,  old  snapper; 
if  they  do,  I  cuts  them  in  halves,  and  a-starn  they  go, 
head  part  floating  on  one  side,  and  tail  part  on  the 
other." 

"  But  don't  they  join  together  again  when  they  meet 
in  your  wake  ? "  inquired  Tom. 

"  Shouldn't  wonder,"  replied  the  American  captain. 

"  Pray,  captain,  what  may  be  that  vessel  they  talk  so 
much  about  at  New  York  ? "  Old  Tom  referred  to  the 
first  steam  vessel,  whose  qualities  at  that  time  had  been 
tried,  and  an  exaggerated  report  of  which  had  been  copied 
from  the  American  papers.  "  That  ship,  or  whatever  she 
may  be,  that  sails  without  masts,  yards,  or  canvas ;  it  is 
quite  above  my  comprehension." 

"  Old  country  heads  can't  take  it  in.  I'll  tell  you  what 
— she  goes  slick  through  the  water,  a-head  or  a-starn, 
broadside  on,  or  up  or  down,  or  any  way  ;  and  all  you 
have  to  do  is  to  poke  the  fire  and  warm  your  fingers ; 
and  the  more  you  poke,  the  faster  she  goes,  'gainst  wind 
and  tide." 

"  Well,  I  must  see  that,  to  believe  it  though,"  replied 
old  Tom. 

"  No  fear  of  a  capsize,  I  calculate.  My  little  craft  did 
upset  with  me  one  night,  in  a  pretty  considerable  heavy 


Jacob  Faithful  157 

gal ;  but  she's  smart,  and  came  up  again  on  the  other  side 
in  a  moment,  all  right  as  before.  Never  should  have 
known  any  thing  about  it,  if  the  man  at  the  wheel  had 
not  found  his  jacket  wet,  and  the  men  below  had  a  round 
turn  in  all  the  clues  of  their  hammocks." 

"  After  that  round  turn,  you  may  belay,"  cried  young 
Tom,  laughing. 

"  Yes,  but  don't  let's  have  a  stopper  over  all,  Tom," 
replied  his  father.  *'  I  consider  all  this  excessively  divart- 
ing.  Pray,  captain,  does  everything  else  go  fast  in  the 
new  country." 

"  Every  thing  with  us  clean  slick,  I  guess." 

"  What  sort  of  horses  have  you  in  America  ? "  in- 
quired I. 

"  Our  Kentucky  horses,  I've  a  notion,  would  surprise 
you.  They're  almighty  goers ;  at  a  trot,  beat  a  N.W. 
gal  of  wind.  I  once  took  an  Englishman  with  me  in  a 
gig  up  Allibama  country,  and  he  says,  *  What's  this  great 
churchyard  we  are  passing  through  ? '  *  And  stranger,' 
says  I,  *  I  calculate  its  nothing  but  the  milestones  we  are 
passing  so  slick.^  But  I  once  had  a  horse,  who,  I  expect, 
was  a  deal  quicker  than  that.  I  once  seed  a  flash  of 
lightning  chase  him  for  half  an  hour  round  the  clearance, 
and  I  guess  it  couldn't  catch  him.  But  I  can't  wait  no 
longer.  I  expect  you'll  come  alongside  to-morrow  afore 
meridian." 

"  Ay,  ay,  master,"  replied  old  Tom,  tuning  up — 

"  'Twas  post  meridian,  half-past  four, 
By  signal  I  from  Nancy  parted, 
At  five  she  lingered  on  the  shore, 

With  uplift  eyes  and  broken-hearted." 

"  I  calculate  you  are  no  fool  of  a  screamer,"  said  the 
American,  shoving  off  his  boat  from  the  barge,  and  pulling 
to  his  vessel. 

"  And  I  calculate  you're  no  fool  of  a  liar,"  said  young 
Tom,  laughing. 

"  Well,  so  he  is ;  but  I  do  like  a  good  lie,  Jacob,  there's 


158  Jacob  Faithful 

some  fun  in  it.  But  what  the  devil  does  the  fellow  mean 
by  calling  a  gale  of  wind — a  gal  ?  " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  Tom,  "  unless  for  the  same 
reason  that  we  call  a  girl  a  hloiving." 

Our  conversation  was  here  interrupted  by  Mr  Hodgson, 
the  new  head  clerk,  of  whom  I  have  hitherto  said  nothing. 
He  came  into  the  establishment  in  the  place  of  Mr 
Tomkins,  when  we  quitted  the  Battersea  wharf,  and  had 
taken  an  evident  dislike  to  me,  which  appeared  to  in- 
crease every  day,  as  Mr  Drummond  gave  me  fresh  marks 
of  his  approbation.  "  You,  Faithful,  come  out  of  that 
barge  directly,  and  go  to  your  desk.  I  will  have  no  eye- 
servers  under  me.     Come  out,  sir,  directly," 

*'  I  say,  Mr  Quilldriver,"  cried  old  Tom,  "  do  you  mean 
for  to  say  that  Jacob  is  an  eye-sarver  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  do  :  and  w^ant  none  of  your  impertinence,  or 
I'll  unship  you,  you  old  blackguard." 

"  Well  then,  for  the  first  part  of  your  story,  my  sarvice 
to  you,  and  you  lies  ;  and  as  for  the  second,  that  remains 
to  be  proved." 

Mr  Hodgson's  temper  was  not  softened  by  this  reply  of 
old  Tom»  My  blood  was  also  up,  for  I  had  borne  much 
already  j  and  young  Tom  was  bursting  with  impatience  to 
take  my  part.  He  walked  carelessly  by  the  head-clerk, 
saying  to  me  as  he  passed  by,  "Why,  I  thought,  Jacob, 
you  were  'prentice  to  the  river  ;  but  it  seems  that  you're 
bound  to  the  counting-house.  How  long  do  you  mean  to 
sarve  ? " 

"  I  don't  know,"  replied  I,  as  I  walked  away  sulkily  j 
*'  but  I  wish  I  was  out  of  my  time." 

"Very  well,  sir,  I  shall  report  your  behaviour  to  Mr 
Drummond.     I'll  make  him  know  your  tricks." 

"  Tricks  !  you  won't  let  him  know  his  tricks.  His  duty 
is  to  take  his  trick  at  the  wheel,"  replied  old  Tom  •,  "  not  to 
be  brought  up  at  your  cheating  tricks  at  the  desk." 

*'  Cheating  tricks,  you  old  scoundrel,  what  do  you  mean 
by  that  ?  "  replied  Mr  Hodgson,  in  a  rage. 

**  My  father  means  /^^^<?rdemain,  I  suppose,"  replied 
young  Tom. 


Jacob  Faithful  159 

This  repartee  from  a  quarter  so  little  expected,  sent  oiF 
the  head-clerk  more  wroth  than  ever. 

"  You  seemed  to  hit  him  hard  there,  Tom,"  said  his 
father ;  "  but  I  can't  say  that  I  understand  how." 

"  You've  had  me  taught  to  read  and  write,  father," 
replied  young  Tom  ;  "  and  a'ter  that,  a  lad  may  teach 
himself  everything.  I  pick  up  every  day,  here  and  there  ; 
and  I  never  see  a  thing  or  a  word  that  I  don't  understand 
but  I  find  out  the  meaning  when  I  can.  I  picked  up  that 
hard  word  at  Bartlemy  fair." 

**  And  very  hard  you  hit  him  with  it." 

*♦  Who  wouldn't  to  serve  a  friend  ?  But  mark  my 
words,  father,  this  won't  last  long.  There's  a  squall 
blowing  up,  and  Jacob,  quiet  as  he  seems  to  be,  will  show 
his  teeth  ere  long." 

Tom  was  correct  in  his  surmise.  I  had  not  taken  my 
seat  at  my  desk  more  than  a  minute,  when  Mr  Hodgson 
entered,  and  commenced  a  tirade  of  abuse,  which  my  pride 
could  no  longer  allow  me  to  submit  to.  An  invoice,  per- 
fectly correct  and  well  written,  which  I  had  nearly  com- 
pleted, he  snatched  from  before  me,  tore  into  fragments, 
and  ordered  me  to  write  it  over  again.  Indignant  at  this 
treatment,  I  refused,  and,  throwing  down  my  pen,  looked 
him  determinedly  in  the  face.  Irritated  at  this  defiance, 
he  caught  up  a  directory,  and  threw  it  at  my  head.  No 
longer  able  to  command  myself,  I  seized  a  ruler  and 
returned  the  salute.  It  was  whizzing  through  the  air  as 
Mr  Drummond  entered  the  room  ;  and  he  was  just  in  time 
to  witness  Mr  Hodgson  struck  on  the  forehead  and  felled 
to  the  ground,  while  I  remained  with  my  arm  raised, 
standing  upon  the  cross-bar  of  my  high  stool,  my  face 
glowing  with  passion. 

Appearances  were  certainly  against  me.  Assistance  was 
summoned,  and  the  head-clerk  removed  to  his  chamber, 
during  all  which  time  I  remained  seated  on  my  stool  before 
the  desk,  my  breast  heaving  with  tumultuous  feelings. 
How  long  I  remained  there  I  cannot  say,  it  might  have  been 
two  hours  i  feelings  long  dormant  had  been  aroused  and 


i6o  Jacob  Faithful 

whirled  round  and  round  in  a  continual  cycle  in  my  feverish 
brain.  I  should  have  remained  probably  much  longer  in 
this  state  of  absorption,  had  I  not  been  summoned  to  attend 
Mr  Drummond.  It  appeared  that  in  the  meantime,  Mr 
Hodgson  had  come  to  his  own  senses,  and  had  given  his 
own  version  of  the  fracas,  which  had  been,  to  an  unjusti- 
fiable degree,  corroborated  by  the  stupid  young  clerk,  who 
was  no  friend  of  mine,  and  who  sought  favour  with  his 
principal.  I  walked  up  to  the  drawing-room,  where  I 
found  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond,  and  little  Sarah,  whose 
eyes  were  red  with  crying.  I  entered  without  any  feeling 
of  alarm,  my  breast  was  too  full  of  indignation.  Mrs 
Drummond  looked  grave  and  mournful ;  Mr  Drummond 
severe." 

"  Jacob  Faithful,  I  have  sent  for  you  to  tell  you,  that  in 
consequence  of  your  disgraceful  conduct  to  my  senior 
clerk,  you  can  no  longer  remain  under  my  roof.  It  appears 
that  what  I  have  been  a  witness  to  this  day  has  been  but 
a  sequel  to  behaviour  equally  improper  and  impertinent ; 
that  so  far  from  having,  as  I  thought,  done  your  duty,  you 
have  constantly  neglected  it ;  and  that  the  association  you 
have  formed  with  that  drunken  old  man  and  his  insolent 
son,  has  led  you  into  this  folly.  You  may  say  that  it  was 
not  your  wish  to  remain  on  shore,  and  that  you  preferred 
being  on  the  river.  At  your  age,  it  is  too  often  the  case 
that  young  people  consult  their  wishes  rather  than  their 
interests  ;  and  it  is  well  for  them  if  they  find  those  who 
are  older,  and  wish  them  well,  to  decide  for  them.  I  had 
hoped  to  have  been  able  to  place  you  in  a  more  respectable 
situation  in  society  than  was  my  original  intention  when 
you  were  thrown  upon  me  a  destitute  orphan ;  but  I  now 
perceive  my  error.  You  have  proved  yourself  not  only 
deceitful  but  ungrateful." 

•*  I  have  not,"  interrupted  I,  calmly. 

"  You  have.  I  have  been  a  witness  myself  to  your  im- 
propriety of  conduct,  which  it  appears  has  long  been  con- 
cealed from  me  ;  but  no  more  of  that.  I  bound  you 
apprentice  to  the  river,  and  you  must  now  follow  up  your 


Jacob  Faithful  i6i 

apprenticeship ;  but  expect  nothing  farther  from  me. 
You  must  now  work  your  own  way  up  in  the  world,  and 
I  trust  that  you  will  reform  and  do  well.  You  may  return 
to  the  lighter  until  I  can  procure  you  a  situation  in  another 
craft,  for  I  consider  it  my  duty  to  remove  you  from  the 
influence  of  those  who  have  led  you  astray,  and  with  the 
old  man  and  his  son  you  shall  not  remain.  I  have  one 
thing  more  to  say.  You  have  been  in  my  counting-house 
for  some  months,  and  you  are  now  about  to  be  thrown 
upon  the  world.  There  are  ten  pounds  for  your  services" 
(and  Mr  Drummond  laid  the  money  on  the  table).  "  You 
may  also  recollect  that  I  have  some  money  belonging  to 
you,  which  has  been  laid  by  until  you  shall  be  out  of  your 
apprenticeship.  I  consider  it  my  duty  still  to  retain  that 
money  for  you  ;  as  soon  as  your  apprenticeship  is  expired, 
you  may  demand  it,  and  it  shall  be  made  over  to  you.  I 
trust,  sincerely  trust,  Jacob,  that  the  severe  lesson  you  are 
now  about  to  receive  will  bring  you  to  a  sense  of  what  is 
right,  and  that  you  will  forget  the  evil  counsel  you  have 
received  from  your  late  companions.  Do  not  attempt  to 
justify  yourself;  it  is  useless."  Mr  Drummond  then  rose, 
and  left  the  room. 

I  should  have  replied,  had  it  not  been  for  this  last 
sentence  of  Mr  Drummond's,  which  again  roused  the 
feelings  of  indignation,  which,  in  their  presence,  had  been 
gradually  giving  way  to  softer  emotions.  I  therefore 
stood  still,  and  firmly  met  the  glance  of  Mr  Drummond, 
as  he  passed  me.  My  looks  were  construed  into  hardness 
of  heart. 

It  appeared  that  Mr  Drummond  had  left  the  room  by 
previous  arrangement,  that  he  might  not  be  supposed  to  be 
moved  from  his  purpose,  and  that  Mrs  Drummond  was 
then  to  have  talked  to  me,  and  to  have  ascertained  how  far 
there  was  a  chance  of  my  pleading  guilty,  and  begging  for 
a  mitigation  of  my  sentence  ;  but  the  firm  composure  of 
innocence  was  mistaken  for  defiance;  and  the  blood 
mounting  to  my  forehead  from  a  feeling  of  injustice — of 
injustice  from  those  I  loved  and  venerated — perhaps  the 

I.F.  L 


i62  Jacob  Faithful 

most  poignant  feeling  in  existence  to  a  sensitive  and 
generous  mind — was  falsely  estimated  as  proceeding  from 
impetuous  and  disgraceful  sources.  Mrs  Drummond 
looked  upon  me  with  a  mournful  face,  sighed,  and  said 
nothing ;  little  Sarah  watching  me  with  her  large  black 
eyes,  as  if  she  would  read  my  inmost  soul. 

"  Have  you  nothing  to  say,  Jacob,"  at  last  observed 
Mrs  Drummond,  "  that  I  can  tell  Mr  Drummond  when  his 
anger  is  not  so  great  ?  " 

"  Nothing,  madam,"  replied  I,  "  Except  that  I'll  try  to 
forgive  him." 

This  reply  was  offensive  even  to  the  mild  Mrs  Drummond. 
She  rose  from  her  chair.  "  Come,  Sarah,"  said  she :  and 
she  walked  out  of  the  room,  wishing  me,  in  a  kind,  soft 
voice,  a  "  good-bye,  Jacob,"  as  she  passed  me. 

My  eyes  swam  with  tears.  I  tried  to  return  the  saluta- 
tion, but  I  was  too  much  choked  by  my  feelings ;  I  could 
not  speak,  and  my  silence  was  again  looked  upon  as  con- 
tumacy and  ingratitude.  Little  Sarah  still  remained — she 
had  not  obeyed  her  mother's  injunctions  to  follow  her. 
She  was  now  nearly  fourteen  years  old,  and  I  had  known 
her  as  a  companion  and  a  friend  for  five  years.  During 
the  last  six  months  that  I  had  resided  in  the  house,  we  had 
become  more  intimately  acquainted.  I  joined  her  in  the 
evening  in  ail  her  pursuits,  and  Mr  and  Mrs  Drummond 
appeared  to  take  a  pleasure  in  our  intimacy.  I  loved  her 
as  a  dear  sister ;  my  love  was  based  on  gratitude.  I  had 
never  forgotten  her  kindness  to  me  when  I  first  came 
under  her  father's  roof,  and  a  long  acquaintance  with  the 
sweetness  of  her  disposition  had  rendered  the  attachment 
so  firm,  that  I  felt  I  could  have  died  for  her.  But  I  never 
knew  the  full  extent  of  the  feeling  until  now  that  I  was 
about  to  leave  her,  perhaps  for  ever.  My  heart  sank 
when  Mr  Drummond  left  the  room — a  bitter  pang  passed 
through  it  as  the  form  of  Mrs  Drummond  vanished  from 
my  sight ;  but  now  was  to  be  the  bitterest  of  all.  I  felt 
it,  and  I  remained  with  the  handle  of  the  door  in  my  hand, 
gasping  for  breath — blinded  with  the  tears  that  coursed 


Jacob  Faithful  163 

each  other  rapidly  down  my  cheeks.  I  remained  a  minute 
in  this  state,  when  I  felt  that  Sarah  touched  my  other  list- 
less hand. 

"  Jacob !  "  she  would  have  said,  but  before  half  my 
name  was  out,  she  burst  into  tears,  and  sobbed  on  my 
shoulder.  My  heart  was  too  much  surcharged  not  to  take 
the  infection — my  grief  found  vent,  and  I  mingled  my  sobs 
with  those  of  the  affectionate  girl.  When  we  were  more 
composed,  I  recounted  to  her  all  that  had  passed,  and  one, 
at  least,  in  the  world  acknowledged  that  I  had  been  treated 
unjustly.  I  had  but  just  finished,  when  the  servant  inter- 
rupted us  with  a  message  to  Sarah,  that  her  mother 
desired  her  presence.  She  threw  herself  into  my  arms, 
and  bade  me  farewell.  When  I  released  her,  she  hastened 
to  obey  her  mother,  but  perceiving  the  money  still  upon 
the  table,  she  pointed  to  it.     *'  Your  money,  Jacob  !  " 

"  No,  Sarah,  I  will  not  accept  it.  I  would  accept  of 
anything  from  those  who  treat  me  kindly,  and  feel  more 
and  more  grateful  to  them  ;  but  that  I  will  not  accept — I 
cannot,  and  you  must  not  let  it  be  left  here.  Say  that  I 
could  not  take  it." 

Sarah  would  have  remonstrated,  but  perceiving  that  I 
was  firm,  and  at  the  same  time,  perhaps,  entering  into 
my  feelings,  she  again  bade  me  farewell,  and  hastened 
away. 

The  reader  may  easily  imagine  that  I  did  not  put  ofF 
my  departure.  I  hastened  to  pack  up  my  clothes,  and 
in  less  than  ten  minutes  after  Sarah  had  quitted  me,  I 
was  on  board  the  lighter,  with  old  Tom  and  his  son, 
who  were  then  going  to  supper.  They  knew  a  part  of 
what  had  happened,  and  I  narrated  the  rest. 

"  Well,"  replied  old  Tom,  after  I  had  finished  my  story, 
**  I  don't  know  that  I  have  done  you  any  harm,  Jacob, 
and  I'm  sorry  that  Mr  Drummond  should  suppose  so. 
I'm  fond  of  a  drop,  that's  true ;  but  I  appeals  to  you, 
whether  I  ever  force  it  on  you — and  whether  I  don't 
check  that  boy  as  much  as  I  can ;  but  then,  d'ye  see, 
although  I  preach,  I  don't   practise,  that's    the  wont  of 


1 64  Jacob  Faithful 

it ;  and  I  know  I've  to  answer  for  making  Tom  so  fond 
of  grog  ;  and  though  I  never  says  anything  about  it,  I 
often  think  to  myself,  that  if  Tom  should  chance  to  be 
pressed  some  of  these  days,  and  be  punished  for  being 
in  liquor,  he'll  think  of  his  old  father,  and  curse  him  in 
his  heart,  when  he  eyes  the  cat  flourishing  round  before 
it  strikes." 

**  I'll  curse  the  cat,  father,  or  the  boatswain's  mate,  or 
the  officer  who  complained  of  me,  or  the  captain  who  flogs 
me,  or  my  own  folly,  but  I'll  be  hanged  if  ever  I  curse 
you,  who  have  been  so  kind  to  me,"  replied  Tom,  taking 
his  father's  hand. 

"  Well,  we  must  hope  for  the  best,  my  dear  boy," 
replied  old  Tom ;  '*  but,  Jacob,  you've  not  had  fair  play, 
that's  sartain.  It's  very  true,  that  master  did  take  you  as 
an  orphan,  and  help  you  to  an  education  ;  but  that's  no 
reason  why  he  should  take  away  your  free  will,  and  after 
binding  you  'prentice  to  the  river,  perch  you  up  on  a  high 
stool,  and  grind  your  nose  down  to  the  desk.  If  so  be 
he  was  so  kind  to  you  only  to  make  you  a  slave,  why, 
then  there  was  no  kindness  at  all  in  my  opinion ;  and  as 
for  punishment  without  hearing  what  a  man  has  to  say  in 
his  own  defence — there's  ne'er  a  Tartar  in  the  sarvice  but 
would  allow  a  man  to  speak  before  he  orders  him  to  strip. 
I  recollect  a  story  about  that  in  the  sarvice,  but  I'm  in  no 
humour  to  spin  a  yarn  now.  Now,  you  see,  Jacob,  Master 
Drummond  has  done  a  great  deal  for  you,  and  now  he  has 
undone  a  great  deal.  I  can't  pretend  to  balance  the 
account,  but  it  does  appear  to  me  that  you  don't  owe  him 
much  ;  for  what  thanks  is  there  if  you  take  a  vessel  in 
tow,  and  then  cast  her  off,  half  way,  when  she  most  needs 
your  assistance  ?  But  what  hurts  me  most,  is  his  saying 
that  you  sha'n't  stay  in  the  lighter  with  us ;  if  you  had, 
you  shouldn't  have  wanted,  as  long  as  pay  and  pension  are 
forthcoming.  Never  mind — Tom,  my  boy,  bring  out  the 
bottle — hang  care  :  it  killed  the  cat." 

The  grog  did  not,  however,  bring  back  old  Tom's 
spirits  ;  the  evening  passed  heavily,  and  we  retired  to  our 


Jacob  Faithful  165 

beds  at  a  seasonable  hour,  as  we  were  to  drop  down  to 
the  schooner  early  the  next  morning.  That  night  I  did 
not  close  my  eyes.  I  ran  over,  in  my  mind,  all  that  had 
occurred,  and  mdignation  took  full  possession  of  my  soul. 
My  whole  life  passed  in  review  before  me.  I  travelled 
back  to  my  former  days — to  the  time  which  had  been 
almost  obliterated  from  my  memory,  when  I  had  navigated 
the  barge  with  my  father.  Again  was  the  scene  of  his 
and  my  mother's  death  presented  to  my  view  ;  again  I  saw 
him  disappear,  and  the  column  of  black  smoke  ascend  to 
the  sky.  The  Domine,  the  matron,  Marables,  and 
Fleming,  the  scene  in  the  cabin — all  passed  in  rapid 
succession.  I  felt  that  I  had  done  my  duty,  and  that  I 
had  been  unjustly  treated  ;  my  head  ached  with  tumultuous 
and  long  suppressed  feelings.  Reader,  I  stated  that  when 
I  was  first  taken  in  hand  by  Mr  Drummond  I  was  a  savage, 
although  a  docile  one,  to  be  reclaimed  by  kindness,  and  kind- 
ness only.  You  may  have  been  surprised  at  the  rapid  change 
which  took  place  in  a  few  years  ;  that  change  was  produced 
by  kindness.  The  conduct  of  Mr  Drummond,  of  his  amiable 
wife  and  daughter,  had  been  all  kindness ;  the  Domine 
and  the  worthy  old  matron  had  proved  equally  beneficent. 
Marables  had  been  kind ;  and,  although  now  and  then,  as 
in  the  case  of  the  usher  at  the  school,  and  Fleming  on 
board  the  lighter,  I  had  received  injuries,  still,  these  were 
but  trifling  checks  to  the  uninterrupted  series  of  kindness 
with  which  I  had  been  treated  by  everybody.  Thus  was 
my  nature  rapidly  formed  by  a  system  of  kindness  assisted 
by  education  ;  and  had  this  been  followed  up,  in  a  few 
years  my  new  character  would  have  been  firmly  established. 
But  the  blow  was  now  struck,  injustice  roused  up  the 
latent  feelings  of  my  nature,  and  when  I  rose  the  next 
morning  I  was  changed.  I  do  not  mean  to  say  that  all 
that  precept  and  education  had  done  for  me  was  over- 
thrown ;  but  if  not  overthrown,  it  was  so  shaken  to  the 
base,  so  rent  from  the  summit  to  the  foundation,  that,  at 
the  slightest  impulse,  in  a  wrong  direction,  it  would  have 
fallen   in  and  left  nothing  but  a  mixed  chaos  of  ruined 


i66  Jacob  Faithful 

prospects.  If  any  thing  could  hold  It  together,  it  was  the 
kindness  and  affection  of  Sarah,  to  which  I  would  again 
and  again  return  in  my  revolving  thoughts,  as  the  only  and 
bright  star  to  be  discovered  in  my  clouded  horizon. 

How  dangerous,  how  foolish,  how  presumptuous  is  it 
in  adults  to  suppose  that  they  can  read  the  thoughts  and 
the  feelings  of  those  of  a  tender  age  !  How  often  has  this 
presumption  on  their  part  been  the  ruin  of  a  young  mind, 
which,  if  truly  estimated  and  duly  fostered,  would  have 
blossomed  and  produced  good  fruit !  The  blush  of 
honest  indignation  is  as  dark  as  the  blush  of  guilt,  and 
the  paleness  of  concentrated  courage  as  marked  as  that  of 
fear,  the  firmness  of  conscious  innocence  is  but  too  often 
mistaken  as  the  effrontery  of  hardened  vice,  and  the  tears 
springing  from  a  source  of  injury,  the  tongue  tied  from 
the  oppression  of  a  wounded  heart,  the  trembling  and 
agitation  of  the  little  frame  convulsed  with  emotion  have 
often  and  often  been  ascribed  by  prejudging  and  self- 
opinionated  witnesses  to  the  very  opposite  passions  to 
those  which  have  produced  them.  Youth  should  never 
be  judged  harshly,  and  even  when  judged  correctly, 
should  it  be  in  an  evil  course,  may  alv/ays  be  reclaimed ; 
— those  who  decide  otherwise,  and  leave  it  to  drift  about 
the  world,  have  to  answer  for  the  castanvay. 


Chapter  XIX 

The  breach  widened — I  turn  sportsman,  poacher,  and  desperado — Son^e 
excellent  notions  propounded  of  common  law  upon  common  rights — 
The  common  keeper  uncommonly  savage — I  warn  him  off — He  prophesies 
that  we  shall  both  come  to  the  gallows — Some  men  are  prophets  in  their 
own  country — The  man  right  after  all, 

"Hollo!  in  the  lighter  there — I  say,  you  lighter  boyf^ 
were  words  I  heard,  as  I  was  pacing  the  deck  of  the 
vessel  in  the  deep  cogitation.  Tom  and  his  father  were 
both  in  the  cabin ;  there  could  be  no  doubt  but  that  they 
were  addressed  to  me.     I  looked  up  and  perceived  the 


Jacob  Faithful  167 

grinning,  stupid,  sneering  face  of  the  young  clerk, 
Gubbins.  "Why  don't  you  answer  when  you're  called 
to,  heh  ? "  continued  the  numscull.  "  You're  wanted  up 
here  !  come  up  directly." 

"Who  wants  me  ?  "  replied  I,  reddening  with  anger. 

"  What's  that  to  you  ?  Do  you  mean  to  obey  my  order 
or  not  ? " 

•*  No,  I  do  not,"  replied  I ;  "  I'm  not  under  the  orders 
of  such  a  fool,  thank  God  ;  and  if  you  come  within  my 
reach,  I'll  try  if  I  can't  break  your  head,  thick  as  it  is,  as 
well  as  your  master's." 

The  lout  disappeared,  and  I  continued  to  pace  up  and 
down. 

As  I  afterwards  discovered,  the  message  was  from  Mrs 
Drummond,  who  requested  to  speak  to  me.  Sarah  had 
communicated  the  real  facts  of  my  case,  and  Mrs  Drum- 
mond had  been  convinced  that  what  I  had  said  was 
correct.  She  had  talked  with  her  husband  ;  she  pointed 
out  to  him  that  my  conduct  under  Mr  Tomkins  had  been 
so  exemplary  that  there  must  have  been  some  reason  for 
so  sudden  a  change.  Sarah  had  gone  down  into  the 
counting-house,  and  obtained  the  invoice  which  the  senior 
clerk  had  torn  up.  The  correctness  of  it  established  the 
fact  of  one  part  of  my  assertions,  and  that  nothing  but 
malice  could  have  warranted  its  having  been  destroyed. 
Mr  Drummond  felt  more  than  he  chose  to  acknowledge ; 
he  was  now  aware  that  he  had  been  too  precipitate  ;  even 
my  having  refused  the  money  assumed  a  different  appear- 
ance ;  he  was  puzzled  and  mortified.  Few  people  like  to 
acknowledge  that  they  have  been  in  error.  Mr  Drum- 
mond therefore  left  his  wife  to  examine  further  into  the 
matter,  and  gave  her  permission  to  send  for  me.  The 
message  given,  and  the  results  of  it  have  been  stated. 
The  answer  returned  was,  that  I  would  not  come,  and 
that  I  had  threatened  to  break  the  clerk's  head  as  well  as 
that  of  Mr  Drummond  ;  for  although  the  scoundrel  knew 
very  well  that  in  making  use  of  the  word  "  master,"  I 
referred    to    the   senior   clerk,   he    thought   it   proper    to 


1 68  Jacob  Faithful 

substitute  that  of  Mr  Drummond.  The  effect  of  this 
reply  may  easily  be  imagined.  Sarah  was  astonished, 
Mrs  Drummond  shocked,  and  Mr  Drummond  was  almost 
pleased  to  find  that  he  could  not  have  been  in  the  wrong. 
Thus  was  the  breach  made  even  wider  than  before,  and 
all  communication  broken  off.  Much  depends  in  this 
world  upon  messages  being  correctly  given. 

In  half  an  hour  we  had  hauled  out  of  the  tier  and 
dropped  down  to  the  American  schooner,  to  take  out  a 
cargo  of  flour,  which  old  Tom  had  directions  to  land  at 
the  Battersea  wharf;  so  that  I  was,  for  the  time,  removed 
from  the  site  of  my  misfortune.  I  cannot  say  that  I  felt 
happy,  but  I  certainly  felt  glad  that  I  was  away.  I  was 
reckless  to  a  degree  that  was  insupportable.  I  had  a 
heavy  load  on  my  mind  which  I  could  not  shake  off — a 
prey  upon  my  spirits — a  disgust  at  almost  every  thing. 
How  well  do  I  recollect  with  what  different  feelings  I 
looked  upon  the  few  books  which  Mr  Drummond  and 
the  Domine  had  given  me  to  amuse  my  leisure  hours. 
I  turned  from  them  with  contempt,  and  thought  I  would 
never  open  them  again.  I  felt  as  if  all  ties  on  shore  were 
now  cut  off,  and  that  I  was  again  wedded  to  the  Thames ; 
my  ideas,  my  wishes,  extended  no  farther,  and  I  surveyed 
the  river,  and  its  busy  scene,  as  I  did  before  I  had  been 
taken  away  from  it,  as  if  all  my  energies,  all  my  prospects 
were  in  future  to  be  bounded  by  its  shores.  In  the  course 
of  four-and-twenty  hours  a  revulsion  had  taken  place, 
which  again  put  me  on  the  confines  of  barbarism. 

My  bargemates  were  equally  dull  as  I  was :  they  were 
too  partial  to  me,  and  had  too  much  of  kindness  of  heart, 
not  to  feel  my  situation,  and  anger  at  the  injustice  with 
which  I  had  been  treated.  Employment,  however,  for 
a  time  relieved  our  melancholy  thoughts.  Our  cargo  was 
on  board  of  the  lighter,  and  we  were  again  tiding  it 
through  the  bridges. 

"We  dropped  our  anchor  above  Putney  Bridge  a  little 
after  twelve  o'clock,  and  young  Tom,  with  the  wish  of 
amusing  me,  proposed  that  we  should  go  on  shore  and 


Jacob  Faithful  169 

walk.  "  Ah !  do,  my  lads,  do — it  will  do  you  good, 
Jacob  ;  no  use  moping  here  a  whole  tide.  I'll  take  care 
of  the  'barkey.  Mind  you  make  the  boat  well  fast,  and 
take  the  sculls  into  the  public-house  there.  I'll  have  the 
supper  under  weigh  when  you  come  back,  and  then  we'll 
have  a  night  on't.  It's  a  poor  heart  that  never  rejoices ; 
and,  Tom,  take  a  bottle  on  shore,  get  it  filled,  and  bring 
it  off  with  you.  Here's  the  money.  But  I  say,  Tom, 
honour  bright." 

**  Honour  bright,  father;"  and  to  do  Tom  justice,  he 
always  kept  his  promise,  especially  after  the  word  had 
passed  of  **  honour  bright."  Had  there  been  gallons  of 
spirits  under  his  charge  he  would  not  have  tasted  a  drop 
after  that  pledge. 

"  Haul  up  the  boat,  Jacob,  quick,"  said  Tom,  as  his 
father  went  into  the  cabin  to  fetch  an  empty  bottle.  Tom 
hastened  down  below  forward,  and  brought  up  an  old 
gun,  which  he  put  under  the  stern  sheets  before  his  father 
came  out  on  the  deck.  We  then  received  the  bottle  from 
him,  and  Tom  called  out  for  the  dog  Tommy. 

"  Why,  you're  not  going  to  take  the  dog.  What's  the 
use  of  that  ?  I  want  him  here  to  keep  watch  with  me," 
said  old  Tom. 

"  Pooh  !  father ;  why  can't  you  let  the  poor  devil  have 
a  run  on  shore  ?  He  wants  to  eat  grass,  I'm  sure,  for  I 
watched  him  this  day  or  two.  We  shall  be  back  before 
dark." 

"Well,  well,  just  as  you  please,  Tom."  Tommy 
jumped  into  the  boat,  and  away  we  went. 

"  And  now,  Tom,  what  are  you  after  ?"  said  I,  as  soon 
as  we  were  ten  yards  from  the  lighter. 

"  A'ter,  Jacob,  going  to  have  a  little  shooting  on 
Wimbledon  Common ;  but  father  can't  bear  to  see  a  gun 
in  my  hand,  because  I  once  shot  my  old  mother.  I  did 
pepper  her,  sure  enough ;  her  old  flannel  petticoat  was 
full  of  shot,  but  it  was  so  thick  that  it  saved  her.  Are 
you  anything  of  a  shot  ? " 

•<  Never  fired  a  gun  in  my  life.** 


170  Jacob  Faithful 

"  "Well,  then,  we'll  fire  in  turns,  and  toss  up,  if  you 
like,  for  first  shot." 

We  landed,  carried  the  sculls  up  to  the  public-house,  and 
left  the  bottle  to  be  filled,  and  then,  with  Tommy  bounding 
before  us,  and  throwing  about  his  bushy  tail  with  delight, 
ascended  Putney  Hill,  and  arrived  at  the  Green  Man  public- 
house,  at  the  corner  of  Wimbledon  Common.  **  I  wonder 
where  green  men  are  to  be  found  ? "  observed  Tom, 
laughing ;  **  I  suppose  they  live  in  the  same  country  with 
the  blue  dogs  my  father  speaks  about  sometimes.  Now, 
then,  it's  time  to  load." 

The  bowl  of  a  tobacco-pipe  full  of  powder  was  then 
inserted,  with  an  equal  dose  of  shot,  and  all  being  ready 
we  were  soon  among  the  furze.  A  halfpenny  decided  it 
was  my  first  shot,  and  fate  further  decided  that  a  water- 
wagtail  should  be  the  mark.  I  took  good  aim,  as  I  thought, 
at  least  I  took  sufficient  time,  for  I  followed  him  with  the 
muzzle  of  the  gun  for  three  or  four  minutes  at  least,  as  he 
ran  to  and  fro ;  at  last  I  fired.  Tommy  barked  with 
delight,  and  the  bird  flew  away.  **  I  think  I  must  have 
hit  it,"  said  I ;  "  I  saw  it  wag  its  tail." 

"  More  proof  of  a  miss  than  a  hit,"  replied  Tom.  "  Had 
you  hit  it,  he'd  never  have  wagged  his  tail  again." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  I,  *'  better  luck  next  time." 

Tom  then  knocked  a  blackbird  off  a  furze  bush,  and 
loading  the  gun,  handed  it  to  me.  I  was  more  successful 
than  before ;  a  cock  sparrow  three  yards  distant  yielded  to 
the  prowess  of  my  arm,  and  I  never  felt  more  happy  in  my 
life  than  in  this  first  successful  attempt  at  murder. 

Gaily  did  we  trudge  over  the  common,  sometimes  falling 
in  with  gravel-pits  half  full  of  water,  at  others  bogs  and 
swampy  plains,  which  obliged  us  to  make  a  circuit.  The 
gun  was  fired  again  and  again ;  but  our  game-bag  did  not 
fill  very  fast.  However,  if  we  were  not  quite  so  well 
pleased  when  we  missed  as  when  we  hit.  Tommy  was, 
every  shot  being  followed  up  with  a  dozen  bounds,  and 
half  a  minute's  barking.  At  last  we  began  to  feel  tired, 
and  agreed  to  repose  a  while  in  a  cluster  of  furze  bushes. 


Jacob  Faithful  171 

We  sat  down,  pulled  out  our  game,  and  spread  it  in  a  row 
before  us.  It  consisted  of  two  sparrows,  one  greenfinch, 
one  blackbird,  and  three  tomtits.  All  of  a  sudden  we 
heard  a  rustling  in  the  furze,  and  then  a  loud  squeal.  It 
was  the  dog,  who  scenting  something,  had  forced  his  way 
into  the  bush,  and  had  caught  a  hare,  which  having  been 
wounded  in  the  loins  by  some  other  sportsman,  had  dragged 
itself  there  to  die.  In  a  minute  we  had  taken  possession  of 
it,  much  to  the  annoyance  of  Tommy,  who  seemed  to 
consider  that  there  was  no  co-partnership  in  the  concern, 
and  would  not  surrender  his  prize  until  after  sundry 
admonitory  kicks.  When  Vv-^e  had  fairly  beaten  him  off  we 
were  in  an  ecstacy  of  delight.  We  laid  the  animal  out 
between  us,  and  were  admiring  it  from  the  ear  to  the  tip 
of  his  tail,  when  we  were  suddenly  saluted  with  a  voice 
close  to  us.  **  Oh,  you  blam'd  young  poachers,  so  I've 
caught  you,  have  I  ?  "  We  looked  up  and  beheld  the 
common-keeper.  "  Come — come  along  with  me  ;  we've  a 
nice  clink  at  Wandsworth  to  lock  you  up  in.  I've  been 
looking  a'ter  you  some  time.     Hand  your  gun  here." 

'*  I  should  rather  think  not,"  replied  I.  '*  The  gun 
belongs  to  us  and  not  to  you  ;  "  and  I  caught  up  the  gun, 
and  presented  the  muzzle  at  him. 

"  What !  do  you  mean  to  commit  murder  ?  Why,  you 
young  villains !  " 

"Do  you  want  to  commit  a  robbery?"  retorted  I, 
fiercely ;  "  because  if  you  do,  I  mean  to  commit  murder. 
Shall  I  shoot  him,  Tom." 

"No,  Jacob,  no  y  you  mustn't  shoot  men,"  replied  Tom, 
who  perceived  that  I  was  in  a  humour  to  keep  my  word 
with  the  common-keeper.  "  Indeed  you  can't,"  continued 
he,  whispering  to  me  -,  "  the  gun's  not  loaded." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  refuse  to  give  me  up  your  gun  ? " 
repeated  the  man. 

"  Yes  I  do,"  replied  I,  cocking  the  lock  j    "  so  keep  off." 

"  Oh  !  you  young  reprobates — you'll  come  to  the  gallows 
before  long,  that's  certain.  Then,  do  you  refuse  to  come 
with  me ! " 


172  Jacob  Faithful 

"  I  should  rather  think  we  do,"  replied  I. 

"  You  refuse,  do  you  ?  Recollect  I've  caught  you  ia 
the  fact,  poaching,  with  a  dead  hare  in  your  possession." 

**  Well,  it's  no  use  crying  about  it.  What's  done  can't 
be  helped,"  replied  I. 

"  Don't  you  know  that  all  the  game,  and  all  the  turf, 
and  all  the  bog,  and  all  the  gravel,  and  all  the  furze  on 
this  common,  belong  to  the  Right  Honourable  Earl 
Spencer  ?  " 

**  And  all  the  blackbirds,  and  all  the  greenfinches,  and  all 
the  sparrows,  and  all  the  tomtits  too,  I  suppose  ?  "  replied  I. 

•*  To  be  sure  they  do — and  I'm  common-keeper.  Now 
you'll  give  me  up  that  hare  immediately." 

"  Look  you,"  replied  Tom,  "  we  didn't  kill  that  hare, 
the  dog  caught  it,  and  it  is  his  property.  We  sba'n't  inter- 
fere in  the  matter.  If  Tommy  chooses  to  let  you  have  it, 
well  and  good.  Here,  Tommy,  this  here  gentleman  says  " 
(and  Tom  pointed  to  the  keeper)  "  that  this  hare  "  (and 
Tom  pointed  to  the  hare)  *'  is  not  yours ;  now  will  you 
*  watch  it,'  or  let  him  have  it  ?  " 

At  the  word  "  watch  it,"  Tommy  lay  down  with  his 
fore-paws  over  the  hare,  and  showing  a  formidable  set  of 
ivories,  looked  fiercely  at  the  man,  and  growled. 

"  You  see  what  he  says  :  now  you  may  do  as  you  please," 
continued  Tom,  addressing  the  man. 

**  Yes — very  well — you'll  come  to  the  gallows,  I  see 
that  J  but  I'll  just  go  and  fetch  half  a  dozen  men  to  help 
me,  and  then  we'll  have  you  both  in  gaol." 

**Then,  be  smart,"  replied  I,  jumping  up  and  levelling 
the  gun.  Tommy  jumped  up  also  to  fly  at  the  man,  but 
Tom  caught  him  by  the  neck  and  restrained  him.  The 
common-keeper  took  to  his  heels,  and,  as  soon  as  he  was 
out  of  gun-shot,  turned  round,  shook  his  fist,  and  then 
hastened  away  to  obtain  the  reinforcement  he  desired. 

"  I  wish  the  gun  had  been  loaded,"  said  I. 

"Why,  Jacob,  what's  come  over  you?  Would  you 
have  fired  at  him  ?  The  man  is  only  doing  his  duty — we 
have  no  business  here." 


Jacob  Faithful  173 

"  I  think  otherwise,"  replied  I.  "  A  hare  on  a  common 
is  as  much  mine  as  Lord  Spencer's.  A  common  belongs  to 
everybody." 

"  That's  my  opinion,  too ;  but,  nevertheless,  if  he  gets 
hold  of  us,  he'll  have  us  in  gaol ;  and  therefore  I  propose 
we  make  off  as  fast  as  we  can  in  the  opposite  way  to  which 
he  is  gone." 

"We  started  accordingly,  and  as  the  keeper  proceeded  in 
the  direction  of  Wandsworth,  we  took  the  other  direction  ; 
but  it  so  happened,  that  on  turning  round,  after  a  quarter 
of  an  hour's  walk,  we  perceived  the  man  coming  back  with 
three  or  four  others.  **  We  must  run  for  it,"  cried  Tom, 
"  and  then  hide  ourselves."  After  ten  minutes'  hard  run 
we  descended  into  a  hollow  and  swampy  place,  looking 
round  to  see  if  they  could  perceive  us,  and  finding  that 
they  were  not  in  sight,  we  plunged  into  a  thick  bunch  of 
furze  bushes,  which  completely  concealed  us.  Tommy 
followed  us,  and  there  we  lay.  "  Now  they  never  will 
find  us,"  said  Tom,  "  if  I  can  only  keep  the  dog  quiet. 
Lie  down.  Tommy.  Watch,  and  lie  down."  The  dog 
appeared  to  understand  what  was  required  j  he  lay  between 
us  perfectly  still. 

We  had  remained  there  about  half  an  hour  when  we 
heard  voices.  I  motioned  to  Tom  to  give  me  the  powder 
to  load  the  gun,  but  he  refused.  The  voices  came  nearer ; 
Tommy  gave  a  low  growl.  Tom  held  his  mouth  with  his 
hands.  At  last  they  were  close  to  the  bushes,  and  we 
heard  the  common-keeper  say,  "  They  never  went  over  the 
hill,  that's  for  certain,  the  little  wagrants  ;  they  can't  be 
far  off — they  must  be  down  in  the  hollow.     Come  along." 

**  But  I'm  blessed  if  I'm  not  up  to  my  knees  in  the  bog," 
cried  one  of  the  men ;  "  I'll  not  go  further  down,  dang  me 
if  I  do." 

**  Well,  then  let's  try  the  side  of  the  bog,"  replied  the 
keeper.  "I'll  show  you  the  way."  And  the  voices 
retreated,  fortunately  for  us,  for  there  had  been  a  con- 
tinual struggle  between  us  and  the  dog  for  the  last  minute, 
I  holding  his  fore-paws,  and  Tom  jamming  up  his  mouth. 


174  Jacob  Faithful 

We  were  now  all  quiet  again,  but  dare  not  leave  our 
liiding-place. 

We  remained  there  for  half  an  hour,  when  it  became 
nearly  dark,  and  the  sky,  which  had  been  quite  clear  when 
we  set  out,  clouded  over.  Tom  put  up  his  head,  looked 
all  round,  and  perceiving  nobody,  proposed  that  we  should 
return  as  fast  as  we  could  ;  to  which  I  agreed.  But  we 
were  scarcely  clear  of  the  furze  in  which  we  had  been  con- 
cealed, when  a  heavy  fall  of  snow  commenced,  which,  with 
the  darkness,  prevented  us  from  distinguishing  our  way. 
Every  minute  the  snow-storm  increased,  the  wind  rose,  and 
hurled  the  flakes  into  our  faces  until  we  were  blinded. 
Still  we  made  good  way  against  it,  and  expected  every 
minute  to  be  on  the  road,  after  which  our  task  would  be 
easy.  On  we  walked  in  silence,  I  carrying  the  gun,  Tom 
with  the  hare  over  his  shoulder,  and  Tommy  at  our  heels. 
For  upwards  of  an  hour  did  we  tread  our  way  through  the 
furze,  but  could  find  no  road.  Above  us  all  was  dark  as 
pitch  ;  the  wind  howled  ;  our  clothes  were  loaded  with 
snow ;  and  we  began  to  feel  no  inconsiderable  degree  of 
fatigue. 

At  last,  quite  tired  out,  we  stopped.  **  Tom,"  said  I, 
*'  I'm  sure  we've  not  kept  a  straight  course.  The  wind 
was  on  our  starboard  side,  and  our  clothes  were  flaked  with 
snow  on  that  side,  and  now  you  see  we've  got  it  in  our 
quarter.     What  the  devil  shall  we  do  ? " 

**  We  must  go  on  till  we  fall  in  with  something,  at  all 
events,"  replied  Tom. 

"  And  I  expect  that  will  be  a  gravel-pit,"  replied  I ; 
**  but  never  mind,  *  better  luck  next  time.'  I  only  wish  I 
had  that  rascal  of  a  common-keeper  here.  Suppose  we 
turn  back  again,  and  keep  the  wind  on  the  starboard  side 
of  us  as  before  ;  we  must  pitch  upon  something  at  last." 

We  did  so,  but  our  difficulties  increased  every  moment  j 
we  floundered  in  the  bogs,  we  tumbled  over  the  stumps 
of  the  cut  furze,  and  had  I  not  caught  hold  of  Tom  as  he 
was  sliding  down,  he  would  have  been  at  the  bottom  of  a 
gravel-pit.     This  obliged  us  to  alter  our  course,  and  we 


Jacob  Faithful  175 

proceeded  for  a  quarter  of  an  hour  in  another  direction, 
until,  worn  out  with  cold  and  fatigue,  we  began  to 
despair. 

"This  will  never  do,  Tom,"  said  I,  as  the  wind  rose 
and  roared  with  double  fury.  **  I  think  we  had  better  get 
into  the  furze,  and  wait  till  the  storm  is  over." 

Tom's  teeth  chattered  with  the  cold ;  but  before  he 
could  reply,  they  chattered  with  fear.  We  heard  a  loud 
scream  overhead.  **  What  was  that?"  cried  he.  I  confess 
that  I  was  as  much  alarmed  as  Tom.  The  scream  was 
repeated,  and  it  had  an  unearthly  sound.  It  was  no  human 
voice — it  was  between  a  scream  and  a  creak.  Again  it 
was  repeated,  and  carried  along  with  the  gale.  I  mustered 
up  courage  sufficient  to  look  up  to  where  the  sound  pro- 
ceeded from  ;  but  the  darkness  was  so  intense,  and  the 
snow  blinded  me  so  completely,  that  I  could  see  nothing. 
Again  and  again  did  the  dreadful  sound  ring  in  our  ears, 
and  we  remained  fixed  and  motionless  with  horror  j  even 
the  dog  crouched  at  our  feet  trembling.  We  spoke  not  a 
word — neither  of  us  moved  ;  the  gun  had  fallen  from  my 
hand ;  the  hare  lay  at  Tom's  feet ;  we  held  each  other's 
hand  in  silence,  and  there  we  remained  for  more  than  a 
quarter  of  an  hour,  every  moment  more  and  more  sinking 
under  the  effects  of  cold,  fatigue,  and  horror.  Fortunately 
for  us,  the  storm,  in  which,  had  it  continued  much  longer, 
we  should,  in  all  probability,  have  perished,  was  by  that 
time  over ;  the  snow  ceased  to  fall ;  the  clouds  were 
rolled  away  to  leeward  ;  and  a  clear  sky,  bespangled  with 
a  thousand  twinkling  lights,  roused  us  from  our  state  of 
bodily  and  mental  suffering.  The  first  object  which  caught 
my  eye  was  a  post  within  two  yards  of  us.  I  looked  at  it, 
followed  it  up  with  my  eyes,  and,  to  my  horror,  beheld  a 
body  suspended  and  swinging  in  chains  over  our  heads. 

As  soon  as  I  recovered  from  the  shock  which  the  first 
view  occasioned,  I  pointed  it  out  to  Tom,  who  had  not  yet 
moved.  He  looked  up,  started  back,  and  fell  over  the 
dog — jumped  up  again,  and  burst  out  into  as  loud  a  laugh 
as  his  frozen  jaws  would  permit.     "  It's  old  Jerry  Aber- 


176  Jacob  Faithful 

shaw,"  said  he,  **  I  know  him  well,  and  now  I  know  where 
we  are."  This  was  the  case ;  Abershaw  had,  about  three 
years  before,  been  hung  in  chains  on  Wimbledon  Common  ; 
and  the  unearthly  sound  we  had  heard  was  the  creaking  of 
the  rusty  iron  as  the  body  was  swung  to  and  fro  by  the 
gale.  "  All's  right,  Jacob,"  said  Tom,  looking  up  at  the 
brilliant  sky,  and  then  taking  up  the  hare,  "  we'll  be  on 
the  road  in  five  minutes."  I  shouldered  the  gun,  and  ofi 
we  set.  "  By  the  Lord,  that  rascally  common-keeper  was 
right,"  continued  Tom,  as  we  renewed  our  steps  ;  "  he  pro- 
phesied we  should  come  to  the  gallows  before  long,  and 
so  we  have.  Well,  this  has  been  a  pretty  turn  out. 
Father  will  be  in  a  precious  stew." 

"Better  luck  next  time,  Tom,"  replied  I,  "it's  all  owing 
to  that  turf-and-bog  rascal.     I  wish  we  had  him  here." 

"Why,  what  would  you  do  with  him  ?  " 

"  Take  down  old  Abershaw,  and  hang  him  up  in  his 
place,  as  sure  as  my  name's  Jacob." 


Chapter  XX 

Our  last  adventure  not  fatal — Take  to  my  grog  kindly — Grog  makes  me  a 
very  unkind  return — Old  Tom  at  his  yarns  again — How  to  put  your  foot 
in  a  mischief,  without  having  a  hand  in  it — Candidates  for  the  cat-o'- 
nine-tails. 

We  soon  recovered  the  road,  and  in  half  an  hour  were  at 
Putney  Bridge;  cold,  wet,  and  tired,  but  not  so  bad  as 
when  we  were  stationary  under  the  gallows  ;  the  quick 
walking  restored  the  circulation.  Tom  went  in  for  the 
bottle  of  spirits,  while  I  went  for  the  sculls  and  carried 
them  down  to  the  boat,  which  was  high  and  dry,  and 
nearly  up  to  the  thwarts  with  snow.  When  Tom  joined 
me,  he  appeared  with  two  bottles  under  his  arms.  "  I 
have  taken  another  upon  tick,  Jacob,"  said  he,  "  for  I'm 
sure  we  want  it,  and  so  will  father  say,  when  he  hears  our 
story."  We  launched  our  boat,  and  in  a  couple  of  minutes 
were  close  to  the  lighter,  on  the  deck  of  which  stood  old  Tom. 


Jacob  Faithful  177 

**  Boat  ahoy  !  is  that  you,  lads  ? "  cried  he. 

**  Yes,  father,  all's  right,"  replied  Tom,  as  we  laid  in  our 
oars. 

"Thank  God!"  replied  the  old  man.  "Boys,  boys, 
how  you  frightened  me  !  where  have  you  been  ?  I  thought 
you  had  met  with  some  disaster.  How  have  I  been 
peeping  through  the  snow-storm  these  last  two  hours, 
watching  for  the  boat,  and  I'm  as  wet  as  a  shag,  and  as 
cold  as  charity.  What  has  been  the  matter  ?  Did  you 
bring  the  bottle,  Tom  ? " 

"  Yes,  father  ;  brought  two,  for  we  shall  want  them  to- 
night, if  we  go  without  for  a  week  ;  but  we  must  all  get  on 
dry  rigging  as  fast  as  possible,  and  then  you  shall  have  the 
story  of  our  cruise." 

In  a  few  minutes  we  had  changed  our  wet  clothes  and 
were  seated  at  the  cabin-table,  eating  our  supper,  and 
narrating  our  adventures  to  the  old  man.  Tommy,  poor 
fellow,  had  his  share,  and  now  lay  snoring  at  our  feet,  as 
the  bottles  and  pannikins  were  placed  upon  the  little  table. 

"  Come,  Jacob,  a  drop  will  do  you  good,"  said  old  Tom, 
filling  me  one  of  the  pannikins.  "  A'ter  all,  it's  much 
better  being  snug  here  in  this  little  cabin,  than  shivering 
with  fear  and  cold  under  old  Abershaw's  gallows ;  and 
Tom,  you  scamp,  if  ever  you  go  gunning  again,  I'll  dis- 
inherit you." 

"What  have  you  got  to  leave,  father,  except  your 
wooden  leg  ?  "  replied  Tom.  "  Your's  would  be  but  a 
•wooden-leg-acy ." 

"  How  do  you  know  but  what  I  can  'post  the  coal  ? ' " 

"  So  you  will,  if  I  boil  a  pot  o'  'tatoes  with  your  legacy — 
but  it  will  only  be  char-coal." 

"  Well,  I  believe  you  are  about  right,  Tom ;  still,  some- 
how or  other,  the  old  woman  always  picks  out  a  piece  or 
two  of  gold  when  I'm  rather  puzzled  how  to  raise  the 
wind.  I  never  keeps  no  'count  with  her.  If  I  follow  my 
legs  before  she,  I  hope  the  old  soul  will  have  saved  some- 
thing ;  for  you  know  when  a  man  goes  to  kingdom  come, 
his  pension  goes  with  him.     However,  let  me  only  hold  on 

J.F.  M 


178  Jacob  Faithful 

another  five  years,  and  then  you'll  not  see  her  want ;  will 
you,  Tom  ?  " 

"  No,  father  ;  I'll  sell  myself  to  the  king,  and  stand  to 
be  shot  at,  at  a  shilling  a  day,  and  give  the  old  woman 
half." 

*'  Well,  Tom,  'tis  but  natural  for  a  man  to  wish  to  serve 
his  country  ;  so  here's  to  you,  my  lad,  and  may  you  never 
do  worse !  Jacob,  do  you  think  of  going  on  board  of  a 
man-of-war  ? " 

"  I'd  like  to  serve  my  apprenticeship  first,  and  then  I 
don't  care  how  soon." 

"  Well,  my  boy,  you'll  meet  more  fair  play  on  board  of 
a  king's  ship,  than  you  have  from  those  on  shore." 

"  I  should  hope  so,"  replied  I,  bitterly. 

**  And  I  hope  to  see  you  a  man  before  I  die,  yet,  Jacob. 
I  shall  very  soon  be  laid  up  in  ordinary — my  toes  pain  me 
a  good  deal  lately  !  " 

"  Your  toes  !  "  cried  Tom  and  I,  both  at  once. 

**  Yes,  boys  ;  you  may  think  it  odd,  but  sometimes  I  feel 
them  just  as  plain  as  if  they  were  now  on,  instead  of  being 
long  ago  in  some  shark's  maw.  At  nights  I  has  the  cramp 
in  them  till  it  almost  makes  me  halloo  out  with  pain.  It's 
a  hard  thing  when  one  has  lost  the  sarvice  of  his  legs,  that 
all  the  feelings  should  remain.  The  doctor  says  as  how 
its  narvous.  Come,  Jacob,  shove  in  your  pannikin.  You 
seem  to  take  it  more  kindly  than  you  did." 

"  Yes,"  replied  I,  "  I  begin  to  like  grog  now."  The 
now  however,  might  be  comprehended  within  the  space  of 
the  last  twenty-four  hours.  My  depressed  spirits  were 
raised  with  the  stimulus,  and,  for  the  time,  I  got  rid  of  the 
eternal  current  of  thought  which  pressed  upon  my  brain. 

*•  I  wonder  what  your  old  gentleman,  the  Domine,  as 
you  call  him,  thought,  after  he  got  on  shore  again,"  said 
old  Tom.  "  He  seemed  to  be  mighty  cut  up.  I  suppose 
you'll  give  him  a  hail,  Jacob  ? " 

*'  No,"  replied  I,  **  I  shall  not  go  near  him,  nor  any  one 
else,  if  I  can  help  it.  Mr  Drummond  may  think  I  wish  to 
make  it  up  again.    I've  done  with  the  shore.    I  only  wish  I 


Jacob  Faithful  179 

knew  what  is  to  become  of  me  ;  for  you  know  I  am  not  to 
serve  in  the  lighter  with  you." 

*'  Suppose  Tom  and  I  look  out  for  another  craft,  Jacob? 
I  care  nothing  for  Mr  Drummond.  He  said  t'other  day  I 
was  a  drunken  old  swab — for  which,  with  my  sarvice  to 
him,  he  lies.  A  drunken  fellow  is  one  who  can't,  for  the 
soul  of  him,  keep  from  liquor,  when  he  can  get  it,  and 
who's  overtaken  before  he  is  aware  of  it.  Now  that's  not 
the  case  with  me,  I  keep  sober  when  there's  work  to  be 
done  ;  and  when  I  knows  that  everything  is  safe  under 
hatches,  and  no  fear  of  nothing,  why  then  I  gets  drunk  like 
a  rational  being,  with  my  eyes  open — 'cause  why — 'cause  I 
chooses." 

"  That's  exactly  my  notion  of  the  thing,"  observed 
Tom,  draining  his  pannikin,  and  handing  it  over  to  his 
father  for  a  fresh  supply. 

*'  Mind  you  keep  to  that  notion,  Tom,  when  you  gets 
in  the  king's  sarvice,  that's  all ;  or  you'll  be  sure  to  have 
your  back  scratched,  which  I  understand  is  no  joke  a'ter 
all.  Yet  I  do  remember  once,  in  a  ship  I  was  in,  when 
half  a  dozen  fellows  were  all  fighting  who  should  be 
flogged." 

*'Pray  give  us  that  yarn,  father;  but  before  you  begin 
just  fill  my  pannikin.  I  shoved  it  over  half  an  hour  ago, 
just  by  way  of  a  hint." 

*'  Well,  then,"  said  old  Tom,  pouring  out  some  spirits 
into  Tom's  pannikin,  "  it  was  just  as  follows.  It  was 
when  the  ship  was  lying  at  anchor  in  Bermuda  harbour, 
that  the  purser  sent  a  breaker  of  spirits  on  shore,  to  be 
taken  up  to  some  lady's  house,  whom  he  was  very  anxious 
to  splice,  and  I  suppose  that  he  found  a  glass  of  grog 
helped  the  matter.  Now,  there  were  about  twenty  of 
the  men  who  had  liberty  to  go  on  shore  to  stretch  their 
limbs — little  else  could  they  do,  poor  fellows,  for  the 
first  lieutenant  looked  sharp  after  their  kits,  to  see  that 
they  did  not  sell  any  of  their  rigging  ;  and  as  for  money, 
we  had  been  five  years  without  touching  a  farthing  of 
pay,  and  I  don't  suppose  there  was  a  matter  of  threepence 


i8o  Jacob  Faithful 

among  the  men  before  the  mast.  However,  liberty's 
liberty  a'ter  all  j  and  if  they  couldn't  go  ashore  and  get 
glorious,  rather  than  not  go  on  shore  at  all,  they  went 
ashore,  and  kept  sober  perforce.  I  do  think,  myself,  it's 
a  very  bad  thing  to  keep  the  seamen  without  a  farthing 
for  so  long — for  you  see  a  man  who  will  be  very  honest 
with  a  few  shillings  in  his  pocket  is  often  tempted  to 
help  himself,  just  for  the  sake  of  getting  a  glass  or  two 
of  grog,  and  the  temptation's  very  great,  that's  sartain, 
'ticularly  in  a  hot  climate,  when  the  sun  scorches  you, 
and  the  very  ground  itself  is  so  heated  that  you  can 
hardly  bear  the  naked  foot  to  it.*  But  to  go  on.  The 
yawl  was  ordered  on  shore  for  the  liberty  men,  and  the 
purser  gives  this  breaker,  which  was  at  least  half  full, 
and  I  daresay  there  might  be  three  gallons  in  it,  under 
my  charge  as  coxswain,  to  deliver  to  madam  at  the  house. 
"Well,  as  soon  as  we  landed,  I  shoulders  the  breaker,  and 
starts  with  it  up  the  hill. 

*'  *  What  have  you  there,  Tom  ?'  said  Bill  Short. 

**  *  What  I  wish  I  could  share  with  you,  Bill,'  says  I  j 
*  it's  some  of  old  Nipcheese's  eighths,  that  he  has  sent  on 
shore  to  bowse  his  jib  up  with,  with  his  sweetheart.' 

"  *  I've  seen  the  madam,'  said  Holmes  to  me — for  you 
see  all  the  liberty  men  were  walking  up  the  hill  at  the 
same  time — *  and  I'd  rather  make  love  to  the  breaker 
than  to  her.  She's  as  fat  as  an  ox,  as  broad  as  she's  long, 
built  like  a  Dutch  schuyt,  and  as  yellow  as  a  nabob.' 

"  '  But  old  Tummings  knows  what  he's  about,'  said 
a  Scotch  lad,  of  the  name  of  M*  Alpine ;  '  they  say  she 
has  lots  of  gold  dust,  more  ducks  and  ingons,  and  more 
inches  of  water  in  her  tank  than  any  one  on  the  island.' 

**  You  see,  boys,  Bermuda  be  a  queer  sort  of  place, 
and  water  very  scarce  ;  all  they  get  there  is  a  God-send, 
as  it  comes  from  heaven ;  and  they  look  sharp  out  for 
the  rain,  which  is  collected  in  large  tanks,  and  an  inch 

*  This  has  been  corrected ;  the  men  have  for  some  time  received  a  por- 
tion of  their  pay  on  foreign  stations,  and  this  portion  has  been  greatly 
increased  during  Sir  James  Graham's  administration. 


Jacob  Faithful  i8i 

or  two  more  of  water  in  the  tank  is  considered  a  great 
catch.  I've  often  heard  the  ladies  there  talking  after  a 
shower : — 

**  '  Good  morning,  marm.  How  do  you  do  this  line 
morning  ? ' 

"  *  Pretty  well,  I  tank  you,  marm.  Charming  shower 
hab  last  night.' 

"  '  Yes,  so  all  say  ;  but  me  not  very  lucky.  Cloud  not 
come  over  my  tank.  How  many  inches  of  water  you  get 
last  night,  marm  ?  ' 

"  *  I  get  good  seven  inches,  and  I  tink  a  little  bit  more, 
which  make  me  very  happy.' 

"  *  Me  no  so  lucky,  marm ;  so  help  me  God,  me  only 
get  four  inches  of  water  in  my  tank  ;  and  dat  nothing.' 

"  Well,  but  I've  been  yawing  again,  so  now  to  keep 
my  course.  As  soon  as  I  came  to  the  house  I  knocked 
at  the  door,  and  a  little  black  girl  opens  the  jalousies, 
and  put  her  finger  to  her  thick  lips. 

"  *  No  make  noise  ;  missy  sleep.* 

"  *  Where  am  I  to  put  this  ?  * 

**  *  Put  down  there ;  by-and-bye  I  come  fetch  it ; '  and 
then  she  closed  the  jalousies,  for  fear  her  mistress  should 
be  woke  up,  and  she  get  a  hiding,  poor  devil.  So  I  puts 
the  breaker  down  at  the  door,  and  walks  back  to  the  boat 
again.  Now,  you  see  these  liberty  men  were  all  by  when 
I  spoke  to  the  girl,  and  seeing  the  liquor  left  with  no  one 
to  guard  it,  the  temptation  was  too  strong  for  them.  So 
they  looked  all  about  them,  and  then  at  one  another,  and 
caught  one  another's  meaning  by  the  eye ;  but  they  said 
nothing.  *  I'll  have  no  hand  in  it,"  at  last  says  one,  and 
walked  away.  *  Nor  I,'  said  another,  and  walked  away, 
too.  At  last  all  of  them  walked  away  except  eight,  and 
then  Bill  Short  walks  up  to  the  breaker  and  says, 

"  *I  won't  have  no  hand  in  it  either;'  but  he  gave  the 
breaker  a  kick,  which  rolls  it  away  two  or  three  yards 
from  the  door. 

"  *  Nor  more  will  I,*  said  Holmes,  giving  the  breaker 
another  kick,  which  rolled  it  out  in  the  road.     So  they 


i82  Jacob  Faithful 

all  went  on,  without  having  a  hand  in  it,  sure  enough, 
till  they  had  kicked  the  breaker  down  the  hill  to  the 
beach.  Then  they  were  at  a  dead  stand,  as  no  one 
would  spile  the  breaker.  At  last  a  black  carpenter  came 
by,  and  they  offered  him  a  glass,  if  he  would  bore  a  hole 
with  his  gimlet,  for  they  were  determined  to  be  able  to 
swear,  every  one  of  them,  that  they  had  no  hand  in  it. 
Well,  as  soon  as  the  hole  was  bored,  one  of  them  borrowed 
a  couple  of  little  mugs  from  a  black  woman,  who  sold 
beer,  and  then  they  let  it  run,  the  black  carpenter  shoving 
one  mug  under  as  soon  as  the  other  was  full,  and  they 
drinking  as  fast  as  they  could.  Before  they  had  half 
finished,  more  of  the  liberty  men  came  down ;  I  suppose 
they  scented  the  good  stuff  from  above  as  a  shark  does 
anything  in  the  water,  and  they  soon  made  a  finish  of  it ; 
and  when  it  was  all  finished,  they  were  all  drunk,  and 
made  sail  for  a  cruise,  that  they  might  not  be  found  too 
near  the  empty  breaker.  Well,  a  little  before  sunset,  I 
was  sent  on  shore  with  the  boat  to  fetch  off  the  liberty 
men,  and  the  purser  takes  this  opportunity  of  going  ashore 
to  see  his  madam,  and  the  first  thing  he  falls  athwart  of 
is  his  own  empty  breaker. 

♦*  '  How's  this  ? '  says  he  j  *  didn't  you  take  this  breaker 
up  as  I  ordered  you  ? ' 

"  *  Yes,  sir,'  replied  I,  *  I  did,  and  gave  it  in  charge  to 
the  little  black  thing ;  but  madam  was  asleep,  and  the 
girl  did  not  allow  me  to  put  it  inside  the  door.'  At  that 
he  began  to  storm,  and  swore  that  he'd  find  out  the  male- 
factors, as  he  termed  the  liberty  men,  who  had  emptied 
his  breaker ;  and  away  he  went  to  the  house.  As  soon 
as  he  was  gone,  we  got  hold  of  the  breaker,  and  made  a 
bull  of  it." 

"  How  did  you  manage  that  ? "  inquired  I. 

"  Why,  Jacob,  a  bull  means  putting  a  quart  or  two  of 
water  into  a  cask  which  has  had  spirits  in  it ;  and  what 
with  the  little  that  may  be  left,  and  what  has  soaked  in 
the  wood,  if  you  roll  it  and  shake  it  well,  it  generally 
turns  out  pretty  fair  grog.     At  all  events  it's  always  better 


Jacob  Faithful  183 

than  nothing.  Well,  to  go  on, — but  suppose  we  fill  up 
again  and  take  a  fresh  departure,  as  this  is  a  tolerable 
long  yarn,  and  I  must  wet  the  threads,  or  they  may  chance 
to  break." 

Our  pannikins,  which  had  been  empty,  were  all 
replenished,  and  then  old  Tom  proceeded. 

*'  It  was  a  long  while  before  we  could  pick  up  the 
liberty  men,  who  were  reeling  about  every  corner  of  the 
town,  and  quite  dark  before  I  came  on  board.  The  first 
lieutenant  was  on  deck,  and  had  no  occasion  to  ask  me 
why  I  waited  so  long,  when  he  found  they  were  all  lying 
in  the  stern  sheets.  'Where  the  devil  could  they  have 
picked  up  the  liquor  ? '  said  he,  and  then  he  ordered  the 
master-at-arms  to  keep  them  under  the  half-deck  till  they 
were  sober.  The  next  morning  the  purser  comes  off, 
and  makes  his  complaint  on  the  quarter-deck,  as  how 
somebody  had  stolen  his  liquor.  The  first  lieutenant 
reports  to  the  captain,  and  the  captain  orders  up  all  the 
men  who  came  off  tipsy. 

" '  Which  of  you  took  the  liquor  ? '  said  he.  They 
all  swore  that  they  had  no  hand  in  it.  *  Then  how  did 
you  get  tipsy  ?  Come  now,  Mr  Short,  answer  me ;  you 
came  off  beastly  drunk — who  gave  you  the  liquor  ? ' 

"  *  A  black  fellow,  sir,'  replied  Short ;  which  was  true 
enough,  as  the  mugs  were  filled  by  the  black  carpenter, 
and  handed  by  him. 

"  Well,  they  all  swore  the  same,  and  then  the  captain 
got  into  a  rage,  and  ordered  them  all  to  be  put  down  on 
the  report.  The  next  day  the  hands  were  turned  up  for 
punishment,  and  the  captain  said,  '  Now,  my  lads,  if  you 
won't  tell  who  stole  the  purser's  grog,  I  will  flog  you  all 
round.  I  only  want  to  flog  those  who  committed  the 
theft,  for  it  is  too  much  to  expect  of  seamen,  that 
they  would  refuse  a  glass  of  grog  when  offered  to 
them.' 

**  Now  Short  and  the  others  had  a  parley  together,  and 
they  had  agreed  how  to  act.  They  knew  that  the  captain 
could  not  bear  flogging,  and  was  a  very  kind-hearted  man. 


184  Jacob  Faithful 

So  Bill  Short  steps  out,  and  says,  touching  his  forelock  to 
the  captain,  *  If  you  please,  sir,  if  all  must  be  flogged,  if 
nobody  will  peach,  I  think  it  better  to  tell  the  truth  at 
once.     It  was  I  who  took  the  liquor.' 

"'Very  well,  then,'  said  the  captain;  *  strip,  sir.'  So 
Bill  Short  pulls  off  his  shirt,  and  is  seized  up.  *  Boat- 
swain's mate,'  said  the  captain,  *  give  him  a  dozen.' 

"  *  Beg  your  honour's  pardon,'  said  Jack  Holmes, 
stepping  out  of  the  row  of  men  brought  out  for  punish- 
ment ;  '  but  I  can't  bear  to  see  an  innocent  man  punished, 
and  since  one  must  be  flogged,  it  must  be  the  right  one. 
It  warn't  Bill  Short  that  took  the  liquor ;  it  was  I.' 

*' *  Why,  how's  this?'  said  the  captain;  'didn't  you 
own  that  you  took  the  liquor,  Mr  Short  ? ' 

"  *  Why,  yes,  I  did  say  so,  'cause  I  didn't  wish  to  see 
everybody  flogged — but  the  truth's  the  truth,  and  I  had  no 
hand  in  it.' 

"  *  Cast  him  loose — Holmes,  you'll  strip,  sir.'  Holmes 
stripped  and  was  tied  up.  *  Give  him  a  dozen,'  said  the 
captain ;  when  out  steps  M' Alpine,  and  swore  it  was 
him,  and  not  Holmes  ;  and  axed  leave  to  be  flogged  in 
his  stead.  At  which  the  captain  bit  his  lips  to  prevent 
laughing,  and  then  they  knew  all  was  right.  So  another 
came  forward,  and  says  it  was  him,  and  not  M* Alpine; 
and  another  contradicts  him  again,  and  so  on.  At  last 
the  captain  says,  *  One  would  think  flogging  was  a  very 
pleasant  aflair ;  you  are  all  so  eager  to  be  tied  up ;  but, 
however,  I  sha'n't  flog  to  please  you.  I  shall  find  out 
who  the  real  culprit  is,  and  then  punish  him  severely. 
In  the  mean  time,  you  keep  them  all  on  the  report,  Mr 

P ,'  speaking  to  the  first  lieutenant.      *  Depend  upon 

it,  I'll  not  let  you  off",  although  I  do  not  choose  to  flog 
innocent  men.'  So  they  piped  down,  and  the  first 
lieutenant,  who  knew  that  the  captain  never  meant  to 
take  any  more  notice  of  it,  never  made  no  inquiries,  and 
the  thing  blew  over.  One  day,  a  month  or  two  after,  I 
told  the  officers  how  it  was  managed,  and  they  laughed 
heartily." 


Jacob  Faithful  185 

We  continued  our  carouse  till  a  late  hour,  old  Tom 
constantly  amusing  us  with  his  long  yarns ;  and  that  night, 
for  the  first  time,  I  went  to  bed  intoxicated.  Old  Tom 
and  his  son  assisted  me  into  my  bed-place,  old  Tom 
observing,  "Poor  Jacob;  it  will  do  him  good;  his  heart 
was  heavy,  and  now  he'll  forget  it  all,  for  a  little  time, 
at  all  events." 

"  Well  but,  father,  I  don't  like  to  see  Jacob  drunk," 
replied  young  Tom.  *'  It's  not  like  him — it's  not  worthy 
of  him  ;  as  for  you  or  me,  it's  nothing  at  all ;  but  I  feel 
Jacob  was  never  meant  to  be  a  toper.  I  never  saw  a  lad 
so  altered  in  a  short  time,  and  I  expect  bad  will  come  of 
it,  when  he  leaves  us." 

I  awoke,  as  might  be  supposed,  after  my  first  debauch, 
with  a  violent  headache,  but  I  had  also  a  fever,  brought 
on  by  my  previous  anxiety  of  mind.  I  rose,  dressed,  and 
went  on  deck,  where  the  snow  was  nearly  a  foot  deep. 
It  now  froze  hard,  and  the  river  was  covered  with  small 
pieces  of  floating  ice.  I  rubbed  my  burning  forehead  with 
the  snow,  and  felt  relief.  For  some  time  I  assisted  Tom 
to  heave  it  overboard,  but  the  fever  pressed  upon  me, 
and  in  less  than  half  an  hour  I  could  no  longer  stand  the 
exertion.  I  sat  down  on  the  water  cask,  and  pressed  my 
hands  to  my  throbbing  temples. 

"  You  are  not  well,  Jacob  ? "  inquired  Tom,  coming 
up  to  me  with  the  shovel  in  his  hand,  and  glowing  with 
health  and  exercise. 

"I  am  not  indeed,  Tom,"  replied  I;  "feel  how  hot  I 
am. 

Tom  went  to  his  father,  who  was  in  the  cabin,  padding, 
with  extra  flannel,  his  stumps,  to  defend  them  from  the 
cold,  which  always  made  him  suffer  much,  and  then  led 
me  into  the  cabin.  It  was  with  much  diflSculty  I  could 
walk  ;  my  knees  trembled,  and  my  eyesight  was  defective. 
Old  Tom  took  my  hand  as  I  sank  on  the  locker. 

**  Do  you  think  that  it  was  taking  too  much  last 
night  ?  "  inquired  Tom  of  his  father. 

**  There's  more  here  than  a  gallon  of  liquor  would  have 


1 86  Jacob  Faithful 

brought  about,"  replied  old   Tom.     "No,   no — I  see  it 
all.     Go  to  bed  again,  Jacob." 

They  put  me  into  bed,  and  I  was  soon  in  a  state  of 
stupor,  in  which  I  remained  until  the  lighter  had  arrived 
at  the  Brentford  Wharf,  and  for  many  days  afterwards. 


Chapter  XXI 

On  a  sick  bed — Fever,  firmness,  and  folly — "  Bound  'prentice  to  a  water- 
man " — I  take  my  first  lesson  in  love,  and  give  my  first  lesson  in  Latin — 
The  love  lesson  makes  an  impression  on  my  auricular  organ — Verily, 
none  are  so  deaf  as  those  who  won't  hear. 

When  I  recovered  my  senses,  I  found  myself  in  bed,  and 
Captain  Turnbull  sitting  by  my  side.  I  had  been  removed 
to  his  house  when  the  lighter  had  arrived  at  the  wharf. 
Captain  Turnbull  was  then  talking  with  Mr  Tomkins,  the 
former  head  clerk,  now  in  charge.  Old  Tom  came  on 
shore  and  stated  the  condition  I  was  in,  and  Mr  Tomkins 
having  no  spare  bed  in  his  house.  Captain  Turnbull  imme- 
diately ordered  me  to  be  taken  to  his  residence,  and  sent 
for  medical  advice.  During  the  time  I  had  remained  in 
this  state,  old  Tom  had  informed  Captain  Turnbull,  the 
Domine,  and  Mr  Tomkins  of  the  circumstances  which  had 
occurred,  and  how  much  I  had  been  misrepresented  to  Mr 
Drummond  ;  and  not  saying  a  word  about  the  affair  of 
Wimbledon  Common,  or  my  subsequent  intemperance,  had 
given  it  as  his  opinion  that  ill-treatment  had  produced  the 
fever.  In  this,  I  believe,  he  was  nearly  correct,  although 
my  disease  might  certainly  have  been  aggravated  and 
hastened  by  those  two  unmentioned  causes.  They  all  of 
them  took  my  part,  and  Mr  Turnbull  went  to  London  to 
state  my  condition  to  Mr  Drummond,  and  also  to  remon- 
strate at  his  injustice.  Circumstances  had  since  occurred 
which  induced  Mr  Drummond  to  lend  a  ready  ear  to  my 
justification  ;  but  the  message  I  had  sent  was  still  an 
obstacle.      This,   however,   was   partly  removed    by    the 


Jacob  Faithful  187 

equivocating  testimony  of  the  young  clerk,  when  he  was 
interrogated  by  Captain  Turnbull  and  Mr  Drummond ; 
and  wholly  so  by  the  evidence  of  young  and  old  Tom, 
who,  although  in  the  cabin,  had  overheard  the  whole  of 
the  conversation ;  and  Mr  Drummond  desired  Captain 
Turnbull  to  inform  me,  as  soon  as  I  recovered,  that  all 
was  forgotten  and  forgiven.  It  might  have  been  on  his 
part,  but  not  on  mine  ;  and  when  Captain  Turnbull  told 
me  so,  with  the  view  of  raising  my  spirits,  I  shook  my 
head  as  I  lay  on  the  pillow.  As  the  reader  will  have 
observed,  the  feeling  roused  in  me  by  the  ill-usage  I  had 
received  was  a  vindictive  one — one  that  must  have  been 
deeply  implanted  in  my  heart,  although,  till  then,  it  had 
never  been  roused  into  action,  and  now,  once  roused,  was 
not  to  be  suppressed.  That  it  was  based  on  pride  was 
evident,  and  with  it  my  pride  was  raised  in  proportion. 
To  the  intimation  of  Captain  Turnbull  I,  therefore,  gave 
a  decided  dissent.  *'  No,  sir,  I  cannot  return  to  Mr 
Drummond :  that  he  was  kind  to  me,  and  that  I  owe  much 
to  his  kindness,  I  readily  admit ;  and  now  that  he  has 
acknowledged  his  error  in  supposing  me  capable  of  such 
ingratitude,  I  heartily  forgive  him  •,  but  I  cannot  and  will 
not  receive  any  more  favours  from  him.  I  cannot  put 
myself  in  a  situation  to  be  again  mortified  as  I  have  been. 
I  feel  I  should  no  longer  have  the  same  pleasure  in  doing 
my  duty  as  I  once  had,  and  I  never  could  live  under  the 
same  roof  with  those  who  at  present  serve  him.  Tell  him 
all  this,  and  pray  tell  little  Sarah  how  grateful  I  feel  to  her 
for  all  her  kindness  to  me,  and  that  I  shall  always  think  of 
her  with  regret,  at  being  obliged  to  leave  her."  And  at 
the  remembrance  of  little  Sarah,  I  burst  into  tears,  and 
sobbed  on  my  pillow.  Captain  Turnbull,  whether  he 
rightly  estimated  my  character,  or  felt  convinced  that  I  had 
made  up  my  mind,  did  not  renew  the  subject. 

"Well,  Jacob,"  replied  he,  "we'll  not  talk  of  that  any 
more.  I'll  give  your  messages  just  in  your  own  words. 
Now,  take  your  draught,  and  try  to  get  a  little  sleep." 

I  complied  with  this  request,  and  nothing  but  weakness 


1 88  Jacob  Faithful 

now  remaining,  I  rapidly  regained  my  strength,  and  with 
my  strength,  my  feelings  of  resentment  increased  in  propor- 
tion. Nothing  but  the  very  weak  state  that  I  was  in  when 
Captain  Turnbull  spoke  to  me,  would  have  softened  me 
down  to  give  the  kind  message  that  I  did  ;  but  my  vindic- 
tive mind  was  subdued  by  disease,  and  better  feelings 
predominated.  The  only  effect  this  had  was  to  increase 
my  animosity  against  the  other  parties  who  were  the  cause 
of  my  ill-treatment,  and  I  vowed  that  they,  at  least,  should 
one  day  repent  their  conduct. 

The  Domine  called  upon  me  the  following  Sunday. 
I  was  dressed  and  looking  through  the  window  when  he 
arrived.  The  frost  was  now  intense,  and  the  river  was 
covered  with  large  masses  of  ice,  and  my  greatest  pleasure 
was  to  watch  them  as  they  floated  down  with  the  tide. 
"  Thou  hast  had  a  second  narrow  escape,  my  Jacob,"  said 
he,  after  some  preliminary  observations.  *'  Once  again  did 
death  (^pallida  mors)  hover  over  thy  couch ;  but  thou  hast 
arisen,  and  thy  fair  fame  is  again  established.  When  wilt 
thou  be  able  to  visit  Mr  Drummond,  and  be  able  to  thank 
him  for  his  kindness  ?  " 

**  Never,  sir,"  replied  I.  **  I  will  never  again  enter  Mr 
Drummond's  house." 

*'  Nay,  Jacob,  this  savoureth  of  enmity.  Are  not  we 
all  likely  to  be  deceived — all  likely  to  do  wrong  ?  Did 
not  I,  even  I,  in  thy  presence,  backslide  into  intemperance 
and  folly  ?  Did  not  I  disgrace  myself  before  my  pupil — 
and  shalt  thou,  in  thy  tender  years,  harbour  ill-will  against 
one  who  hath  cherished  thee  when  thou  wert  destitute, 
and  who  was  deceived  with  regard  to  thee  by  the  base  and 
evil  speaking  ? " 

**  I  am  obliged  to  Mr  Drummond  for  all  his  kindness, 
sir,"  replied  I ;  **  but  I  never  wish  to  enter  his  house.  I 
was  turned  out  of  it,  and  never  will  again  go  into  it." 

^'Eheu!  Jacobe,  thou  art  in  error  j  it  is  our  duty  to 
forgive,  as  we  hope  to  be  forgiven." 

*' I  do  forgive,  sir,  if  that  is  what  is  requested  j  but  I 
cannot,  and  will  not  accept  of  further  favours." 


Jacob  Faithful  189 

The  Domine  urged  in  vain,  and  left  me.  Mr  Tomkins 
also  came,  and  argued  the  point  without  success.  I  was 
resolved.  I  was  determined  to  be  independent ;  and  I 
looked  to  the  river  as  my  father,  mother,  home,  and  every- 
thing. As  soon  as  my  health  was  reinstated,  Captain 
Turnbull  one  day  came  to  me.  *'  Jacob,"  said  he,  "  the 
lighter  has  returned :  and  I  wish  to  know  if  you  intend  to 
go  on  board  again,  and  afterwards  go  into  the  vessel  into 
which  Mr  Drummond  proposes  to  send  you." 

"I  will  go  into  no  vessel  through  Mr  Drummond's 
means  or  interests,"  replied  I. 

*'  What  will  you  do  then  ?  "  replied  he. 

"  I  can  always  enter  on  board  a  man-of-war,"  replied 
I,  **  if  the  worst  comes  to  the  worst ;  but  if  I  can  serve 
out  my  apprenticeship  on  the  river,  I  should  prefer  it." 

"  I  rather  expected  this  answer,  Jacob,  from  what  you 
have  said  to  me  already  ;  and  I  have  been  trying  if  I 
cannot  help  you  to  something  which  may  suit  you.  You 
don't  mind  being  obliged  to  me  ? " 

"  O  no ;  but  promise  you  will  never  doubt  me — never 
accuse  me."     My  voice  faltered,  and  I  could  say  no  more. 

"  No,  my  lad,  that  I  will  not ;  I  know  you,  as  I  think, 
pretty  well ;  and  the  heart  that  feels  a  false  accusation  as 
yours  does  is  sure  to  guard  against  committing  what  you 
are  so  angry  at  being  accused  of.  Now,  Jacob,  listen  to 
me.  You  know  old  deaf  Stapleton,  whose  wherry  we 
have  so  often  pulled  up  and  down  the  river  ?  I  have 
spoken  to  him  to  take  you  as  his  help,  and  he  has  consented. 
Will  you  like  to  go  ?  He  has  served  his  time,  and  has  a 
right  to  take  a  'prentice." 

"  Yes,"  repUed  I,  '*  with  pleasure ;  and  with  more 
pleasure,  from  expecting  to  see  you  often." 

"  O,  I  promise  you  all  my  custom,  Jacob,"  replied  he, 
laughing.  "  We'll  often  turn  old  Stapleton  out,  and  have 
a  row  together.     Is  it  agreed  ?  " 

"  It  is,"  replied  I ;  "  and  many  thanks  to  you." 

"Well,  then,  consider  it  settled.  Stapleton  has  a 
very  good   room,    and   all    that's    requisite   on   shore,    at 


190  Jacob  Faithful 

Fulham.     I  have  seen  his  place,  and  I  think  you  will  be 
comfortable." 

I  did  not  know  at  that  time  how  much  Captain 
Turnbull  had  been  my  friend — that  he  had  made  Stapleton 
take  better  lodgings,  and  had  made  up  the  diiference  to 
him,  besides  allowing  him  a  trifle  per  week,  and  promising 
him  a  gratuity  occasionally,  if  I  were  content  with  my 
situation.  In  a  few  days  I  had  removed  all  my  clothes  to 
Stapleton's,  had  taken  my  leave  of  Mr  Turnbull,  and  was 
established  as  an  apprentice  to  a  waterman  on  the  Thames. 
The  lighter  was  still  at  the  wharf  when  I  left,  and  my 
parting  with  old  Tom  and  his  son  was  equally  and  sin- 
cerely felt  on  both  sides. 

**  Jacob,"  said  old  Tom,  "  I  likes  your  pride  after  all, 
'cause  why,  I  think  you  have  some  right  to  be  proud  ;  and 
the  man  who  only  asks  fair  play,  and  no  favour,  always 
will  rise  in  this  world.  But  look  you,  Jacob,  there's  some- 
times a  current  'gainst  a  man,  that  no  one  can  make  head 
against;  and  if  so  be  that  should  be  your  case  for  a  time, 
recollect  the  old  house,  the  old  woman,  and  old  Tom,  and 
there  you'll  always  find  a  hearty  welcome,  and  a  hearty 
old  couple,  who'll  share  with  you  what  they  have,  be  it 
good,  bad,  or  indifferent.  Here's  luck  to  you,  my  boy ; 
and  recollect,  I  means  to  go  to  the  expense  of  painting  the 
sides  of  my  craft  blue,  and  then  you'll  always  know  her  as 
she  creeps  up  and  down  the  river." 

"  And  Jacob,"  said  young  Tom ; — "  I  may  be  a  wild 
one,  but  I'm  a  true  one  -,  if  ever  you  want  me,  in  fair 
weather  and  in  foul — good  or  bad — for  fun  or  for  mischief 
— for  a  help,  or  for  a  friend  in  need,  through  thick  or  thin, 
I'm  yours,  even  to  the  gallows  ;  and  here's  my  hand  upon 
it." 

"  Just  hke  you,  Tom,"  observed  his  father ;  "  but  I 
know  what  you  mean,  and  all's  right." 

I  shook  hands  with  them  both,  and  we  parted. 

Thus  did  I  remove  from  the  lighter,  and  at  once  take 
up  the  profession  of  a  waterman.  I  walked  down  to  the 
Fulham  side,  where  I  found  Stapleton  at  the  door  of  the 


Jacob  Faithful  191 

public-house,  standing  with  two  or  three  others,  smoking 
his  pipe.  *'  "Well,  lad,  so  you're  chained  to  my  wherry 
for  two  or  three  years  ;  and  I'm  to  'nitiate  you  into  all 
the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  company.  Now,  I'll  tell 
you  one  thing,  which  is,  d'ye  see,  when  the  river's  covered 
with  ice,  as  it  is  just  now,  haul  your  wherry  up  high 
and  dry,  and  smoke  your  pipe  till  the  river  is  clear,  as 
I  do  now." 

"  I  might  have  guessed  that,"  replied  I,  bawling  in  his 
ear,  "  without  your  telling  me." 

"  Very  true,  my  lad ;  but  don't  bawl  in  my  ear  quite 
so  loud,  I  hears  none  the  better  for  it ;  my  ears  require 
coaxing,  that's  all." 

"  Why,  I  thought  you  were  as  deaf  as  a  post." 

"  Yes,  so  I  be  with  strangers,  'cause  I  don't  know  the 
pitch  of  their  voice  ;  but  with  those  about  me  I  hear 
better  when  they  speak  quietly — that's  human  natur. 
Come,  let's  go  home,  my  pipe  is  finished,  and  as  there's 
nothing  to  be  done  on  the  river,  we  may  just  as  well 
make  all  tidy  there." 

Stapleton  had  lost  his  wife  ;  but  he  had  a  daughter, 
fifteen  years  old,  who  kept  his  lodgings,  and  did  for  him, 
as  he  termed  it.  He  lived  in  part  of  some  buildings 
leased  by  a  boat-builder  ;  his  windows  looked  out  on 
the  river ;  and,  on  the  first  floor,  a  bay-window  thrown 
out,  so  that  at  high  water  the  river  ran  under  it.  As  for 
the  rooms,  consisting  of  five,  I  can  only  say  that  they 
could  not  be  spoken  of  as  large  and  small,  but  as  small 
and  smaller.  The  sitting-room  was  eight  feet  square, 
the  two  bed-rooms  at  the  back,  for  himself  and  his 
daughter,  just  held  a  small  bed  each,  and  the  kitchen, 
and  my  room  below,  were  to  match  ;  neither  were  the 
tenements  in  the  very  best  repair,  the  parlour  especially, 
hanging  over  the  river,  being  lop-sided,  and  giving  you 
the  uncomfortable  idea  that  it  would  every  minute  fall 
into  the  stream  below.  Still  the  builder  declared  that 
it  would  last  many  years  without  sinking  further,  and 
that  was  sufficient.     At   all  events,   they  were   very  re- 


192  Jacob  Faithful 

spectable  accommodations  for  a  waterman,  and  Stapleton 
paid  for  them  jTlo  per  annum.  Stapleton's  daughter 
•was  certainly  a  very  well-favoured  girl.  She  had  rather 
a  large  mouth  ;  but  her  teeth  were  very  fine,  and  beauti- 
fully white.  Her  hair  was  auburn — her  complexion  very 
fair,  her  eyes  were  large,  and  of  a  deep  blue,  and  from 
her  figure,  which  was  very  good,  I  should  have  supposed 
her  to  have  been  eighteen,  although  she  was  not  past 
fifteen,  as  I  found  out  afterwards.  There  was  a  frankness 
and  honesty  of  countenance  about  her,  and  an  intellectual 
smile,  which  was  very  agreeable. 

"  Well,  Mary,  how  do  you  get  on  ?  "  said  Stapleton, 
as  we  ascended  to  the  sitting-room.  **  Here's  young 
Faithful  come  to  take  up  with  us." 

"Well,  father,  his  bed's  all  ready;  and  I  have  taken 
so  much  dirt  from  the  room  that  I  expect  we  shall  be 
indicted  for  filling  up  the  river.  I  wonder  what  nasty 
people  lived  in  this  house  before  us." 

**  Very  nice  rooms,  nevertheless  ;  ain't  they,  boy  ?" 

"  O  yes,  very  nice  for  idle  people ;  you  may  amuse 
yourself  looking  out  on  the  river,  or  watching  what  floats 
by,  or  fishing  with  a  pin  at  high  water,"  replied  Mary, 
looking  at  me. 

"  I  like  the  river,"  replied  I,  gravely  ;  **  I  was  born 
on  it,  and  hope  to  get  my  bread  on  it." 

"And  I  like  this  sitting-room,"  rejoined  Stapleton;  "  how 
mighty  comfortable  it  will  be  to  sit  at  the  open  window, 
and  smoke  in  the  summer  time,  with  one's  jacket  oiF !  " 

**  At  all  events  you'll  have  no  excuse  for  dirtying  the 
room,  father  ;  and  as  for  the  lad,  I  suppose  his  smoking 
days  have  not  come  yet." 

"  No,"  replied  I ;  "  but  my  days  for  taking  off  my 
jacket  are,  I  suspect." 

"  O  yes,"  replied  she,  "  never  fear  that :  father  will 
let  you  do  all  the  work  you  please,  and  look  on — won't 
you,  father  ?  " 

"  Don't  let  your  tongue  run  quite  so  fast,  Mary  ;  you're 
not  over  fond  of  work  yourself." 


Jacob  Faithful  193 

"  No ;  there's  only  one  thing  I  dislike  more,"  replied 
she,  "  and  that's  holding  my  tongue." 

"  Well,  I  shall  leave  you  and  Jacob  to  make  it  out 
together ;  I  am  going  back  to  the  Feathers."  And  old 
Stapleton  walked  down  stairs,  and  went  back  to  the  inn, 
saying,  as  he  went  out,  that  he  should  be  back  to  his 
dinner. 

Mary  continued  her  employment,  of  wiping  the  furniture 
of  the  room  with  a  duster  for  some  minutes,  during  which 
I  did  not  speak,  but  watched  the  floating  ice  on  the  river. 
"  "Well,"  said  Mary,  "  do  you  always  talk  as  you  do  now  ? 
if  so,  you'll  be  a  very  nice  companion.  Mr  Turnbull, 
who  came  to  my  father,  told  me  that  you  was  a  sharp 
fellow,  could  read,  write,  and  do  everything,  and  that 
I  should  like  you  very  much ;  but  if  you  mean  to  keep  it 
all  to  yourself,  you  might  as  well  not  have  had  it." 

"I  am  ready  to  talk  when  I  have  anything  to  talk 
about,"  replied  I. 

"That's  not  enough.  I'm  ready  to  talk  about  nothing, 
and  you  must  do  the  same." 

"  Very  well,"  replied  I.     "  How  old  are  you  ? " 

"How  old  ami!  O,  then  you  consider  me  nothing. 
I'll  try  hard  but  you  shall  alter  your  opinion,  my  fine 
fellow.  However,  to  answer  your  question,  I  believe  I'm 
about  fifteen." 

' '  Not  more  !  well  there's  an  old  proverb,  which  I  will 
not  repeat." 

"  I  know  it,  so  you  may  save  yourself  the  trouble,  you 
saucy  boy  ;  but  now,  for  your  age  ? " 

"Mine!  let  me  see;  well,  I  believe  that  I  am  nearly 
seventeen." 

"  Are  you  really  so  old  !  well,  now,  I  should  have 
thought  you  no  more  than  fourteen." 

This  answer  at  first  surprised  me,  as  I  was  very  stout 
and  tall  for  my  age;  but  a  moment's  reflection  told  me 
that  it  was  given  to  annoy  me.  A  lad  is  as  much  vexed 
at  being  supposed  younger  than  he  really  is  as  a  man  of 
a  certain  age  is  annoyed  at  being  taken  for  so  much  older. 

J.F.  N 


194  Jacob  Faithful 

"Pooh!"  replied  I:  "that  shows  how  little  you  know 
about  men." 

"I  wasn't  talking  about  men,  that  I  know  of;  but  still, 
I  do  know  something  about  them.  I've  had  two  sweet- 
hearts already." 

"  Indeed  !  and  what  have  you  done  with  them  ?  " 

"Done  with  them!  I  jilted  the  first  for  the  second, 
because  the  second  was  better  looking ;  and  when  Mr 
Turnbull  told  me  so  much  about  you,  I  jilted  the  second 
to  make  room  for  you  j  but  now,  I  mean  to  try  if  I  can't 
get  him  back  again." 

"With  all  my  heart,"  replied  I,  laughing.  "I  shall 
prove  but  a  sorry  sweetheart,  for  I  never  made  love  in 
my  life." 

"  Have  you  ever  had  any  body  to  make  love  to  ?  " 

"  No." 

"  That's  the  reason,  Mr  Jacob,  depend  upon  it.  All 
you  have  to  do  is  to  swear  that  I'm  the  prettiest  girl  in 
the  world,  that  you  like  me  better  than  any  body  else  in 
the  world ;  do  anything  in  the  world  that  I  wish  you  to 
do — spend  all  the  money  you  have  in  the  world  in  buying 
me  ribbons  and  fairings,  and  then " 

"And  then,  what.?" 

"Why,  then  I  shall  hear  all  you  have  to  say,  take  all 
you  have  to  give,  and  laugh  at  you  in  the  bargain." 

"  But  I  shouldn't  stand  that  long." 

"  O  yes,  you  would.  I'd  put  you  out  of  humour,  and 
coax  you  in  again ;  the  fact  is,  Jacob  Faithful,  I  made  my 
mind  up,  before  I  saw  you,  that  you  should  be  my  sweet- 
heart, and  when  I  will  have  a  thing,  I  will,  so  you  may 
as  well  submit  to  it  at  once ;  if  you  don't,  as  I  keep  the 
key  of  the  cupboard,  I'll  half  starve  you ;  that's  the  way 
to  tame  any  brute,  they  say.  And  I  tell  you  why,  Jacob, 
I  mean  that  you  shall  be  my  sweetheart,  it's  because  Mr 
Turnbull  told  me  that  you  knew  Latin  ;  now  tell  me, 
what  is  Latin  ?  " 

"  Latin  is  a  language  which  people  spoke  in  former 
times,  but  now  they  do  not." 


Jacob  Faithful  195 

•*Well,  then,  you  shall  make  love  to  me  in  Latin,  that's 
agreed." 

"  And  how  do  you  mean  to  answer  me  ? " 

'*  O,  in  plain  English,  to  be  sure." 

"  But  how  are  you  to  understand  me  ? "  replied  I,  much 
amused  with  the  conversation. 

"  O,  if  you  make  love  properly,  I  shall  soon  understand 
you ;  I  shall  read  the  English  of  it  in  your  eyes." 

"  Very  well,  I  have  no  objection ;  when  am  I  to 
begin  ? " 

"Why,  directly,  you  stupid  fellow,  to  be  sure.  What 
a  question  !  " 

I  went  close  up  to  Mary,  and  repeated  a  few  words  of 
Latin.  "Now,"  says  I,  "look  into  my  eyes,  and  see  if 
you  can  translate  them." 

"Something  impudent,  I'm  sure,"  replied  she,  fixing 
her  blue  eyes  on  mine." 

"  Not  at  all,"  replied  I,  "  I  only  asked  for  this,"  and 
I  snatched  a  kiss,  in  return  for  which  I  received  a  box  on 
the  ear,  which  made  it  tingle  for  five  minutes.  "  Nay," 
replied  I,  '*  that's  not  fair ;  I  did  as  you  desired — I  made 
love  in  Latin." 

"  And  I  answered  you,  as  I  said  I  would,  in  plain 
English,"  replied  Mary,  reddening  up  to  the  forehead, 
but  directly  after  bursting  out  into  a  loud  laugh.  "  Now, 
Mr  Jacob,  I  plainly  see  that  you  know  nothing  about 
making  love.  Why,  bless  me,  a  year's  dangling,  and  a 
year's  pocket-money  should  not  have  given  you  what 
you  have  had  the  impudence  to  take  in  so  many  minutes. 
But  it  was  my  own  fault,  that's  certain,  and  I  have  no 
one  to  thank  but  myself.  I  hope  I  didn't  hurt  you — I'm 
very  sorry  if  I  did  ;  but  no  more  making  love  in  Latin  ;  I've 
had  quite  enough  of  that." 

"Well,  then,  suppose  we  make  friends,"  replied  I, 
holding  out  my  hand. 

"  That's  what  I  really  wished  to  do,  although  I've 
been  talking  so  much  nonsense,"  replied  Mary.  "  I  know 
we    shall   like   one   another,  and    be  very  good   friends. 


196  Jacob  Faithful 

You  can't  help  feeling  kind  towards  a  girl  you've  kissed ; 
and  I  shall  try  by  kindness  to  make  up  to  you  for  the 
box  on  the  ear  ;  so  now  sit  down,  and  let's  have  a  long 
talk.  Mr  Turnbull  told  us  that  he  wished  you  to  serve 
out  your  apprenticeship  on  the  river  with  my  father,  so 
that  if  you  agree,  we  shall  be  a  long  while  together.  I 
take  Mr  Turnbull's  word,  not  that  I  can  find  it  out  yet, 
that  you  are  a  very  good-tempered,  good-looking,  clever, 
modest  lad  ;  and  as  an  apprentice  who  remains  with  my 
father  must  live  with  us,  of  course  I  had  rather  it  should 
be  one  of  that  sort  than  some  ugly,  awkward  brute 
who " 

"  Is  not  fit  to  make  love  to  you,"  replied  I. 

"Who  is  not  fit  company  for  me,"  replied  Mary,  "I 
want  no  more  love  from  you,  at  present.  The  fact  is 
that  father  spends  all  the  time  he  can  spare  from  the 
wherry  at  the  alehouse,  smoking ;  and  it's  very  dull  for 
me,  and  having  nothing  to  do,  I  look  out  of  the  window, 
and  make  faces  at  the  young  men  as  they  pass  by,  just  to 
amuse  myself.  Now,  there  was  no  great  harm  in  that 
a  year  or  two  ago :  but  now,  you  know,  Jacob " 

"  Well,  now,  what  then  ? " 

"  O,  I'm  bigger,  that's  all ;  and  what  might  be  called 
sauciness  in  a  girl  may  be  thought  something  more  of  in 
a  young  woman.  So  I've  been  obliged  to  leave  it  off: 
but  being  obliged  to  remain  at  home,  with  nobody  to  talk 
to,  I  never  was  so  glad  as  when  I  heard  that  you  were  to 
come  ;  so  you  see,  Jacob,  we  must  be  friends.  I  daren't 
quarrel  with  you  long,  although  I  shall  sometimes,  just 
for  variety,  and  to  have  the  pleasure  of  making  it  up 
again.     Do  you  hear  me — or  what  are  you  thinking  of  ?  " 

"  I'm  thinking  that  you're  a  very  odd  girl." 

**  I  dare  say  that  I  am,  but  how  can  I  help  that  ? 
Mother  died  when  I  was  five  years  old,  and  father 
couldn't  afford  to  put  me  out,  so  he  used  to  lock  me  in 
all  day,  till  he  came  home  from  the  river ;  and  it  was  not 
till  I  was  seven  years  old,  and  of  some  use,  that  the  door 
was  left  open.     I  never  shall  forget  the  day  when  he  told 


Jacob  Faithful  197 

me  that  in  future  he  should  trust  me,  and  leave  the  door 
open.  I  thought  I  was  quite  a  woman,  and  have  thought 
so  ever  since.  I  recollect  that  I  often  peeped  out,  and 
longed  to  run  about  the  world  ;  but  I  went  two  or  three 
yards  from  the  door,  and  felt  so  frightened,  that  I  ran 
back  as  fast  as  I  could.  Since  that  I  have  seldom  quitted 
the  house  for  an  hour,  and  never  have  been  out  of 
Fuiham." 

"  Then  you  have  never  been  at  school  ? " 

"  O  no — never.  I  often  wish  that  I  had.  I  used  to 
see  the  little  girls  coming  home,  as  they  passed  our  door, 
so  merrily,  with  their  bags  from  the  school  house ;  and 
I'm  sure,  if  it  were  only  to  have  the  pleasure  of  going 
there  and  back  again  for  the  sake  of  the  run,  I  would 
have  worked  hard,  if  for  nothing  else." 

"  Would  you  like  to  learn  to  read  and  write  ?  " 

"  Will  you  teach  me  ? "  replied  Mary,  taking  me  by 
the  arm,  and  looking  me  earnestly  in  the  face 

"  Yes,  I  will,  with  pleasure,"  replied  I,  laughing. 
"  We  will  pass  the  evening  better  than  making  love, 
after  all,  especially  if  you  hit  so  hard.  How  came  you 
so  knowing  in  those  matters  ?  " 

"I  don't  know,"  replied  Mary,  smiling;  "I  suppose,  as 
father  says,  it's  human  nature,  for  I  never  learnt  any 
thing  ;  but  you  will  teach  me  to  read  and  write  ? " 

"I  will  teach  you  all  I  know  myself,  Mary,  if  you  wish 
to  learn.  Everything  but  Latin — we've  had  enough  of 
that." 

"Oh!  I  shall  be  so  much  obliged  to  you.  I  shall  love 
you  so !  " 

"  There  you  are  again." 

"  No,  no,  I  didn't  mean  that,"  replied  Mary,  earnestly. 
"  I  meant  that — after  all,  I  don't  know  what  else  to  say. 
I  mean  that  I  shall  love  you  for  your  kindness,  without 
your  loving  me  again,  that's  it." 

"  I  understand  you  -,  but  now,  Mary,  as  we  are  to  be 
such  good  friends,  it  is  necesssary  that  your  father  and  I 
should  be  good  friends  ;  so  I  must  ask  you  what  sort  of 


198  Jacob  Faithful 

a  person  he  is,  fori  know  little  of  him,  and,  of  course,  wish 
to  oblige  him." 

"  Well,  then,  to  prove  to  you  that  I  am  sincere,  I  will 
tell  you  something.  My  father,  in  the  first  place,  is  a  very 
good-tempered  sort  of  man.  He  works  pretty  well,  but 
might  gain  more,  but  he  likes  to  smoke  at  the  public-house. 
All  he  requires  of  me  his  dinner  ready,  his  linen  clean,  and 
the  house  tidy.  He  never  drinks  too  much,  and  is  always 
civil  spoken ;  but  he  leaves  me  too  much  alone,  and  talks 
too  much  about  human  nature,  that's  all." 

''  But  he's  so  deaf — he  can't  talk  to  you." 

*'  Give  me  your  hand — now  promise — for  I'm  going  to 
do  a  very  foolish  thing,  which  is  to  trust  a  man — promise 
you'll  never  tell  it  again." 

"Well,  I  promise,"  replied  I,  supposing  her  secret  of 
no  consequence. 

"  Well,  then — mind — you've  promised.  Father  is  no 
more  deaf  than  you  or  I." 

"Indeed  1  "  replied  I;  "  why  he  goes  by  the  name  of 
Deaf  Stapleton  ? " 

"  I  know  he  does,  and  makes  everybody  believe  that  he 
is  so  ;  but  it  is  to  make  money." 

"  How  can  he  make  money  by  that  ?  " 

"  There's  many  people  in  business  who  go  down  the 
river,  and  they  wish  to  talk  of  their  affairs  without  being 
overheard  as  they  go  down.  They  always  call  for  Deaf 
Stapleton :  and  there's  many  a  gentleman  and  lady,  who 
have  much  to  say  to  each  other,  without  wishing  people  to 
listen — you  understand  me  ? " 

"  O  yes,  I  understand — Latin  !  " 

"  Exactly — and  they  call  for  Deaf  Stapleton  ;  and  by  this 
means  he  gets  more  good  fares  than  any  other  waterman, 
and  does  less  work." 

"  But  how  will  he  manage  now  that  I  am  with  him  ?  " 

*'  O,  I  suppose  it  will  depend  upon  his  customers  ;  if  a 
single  person  wants  to  go  down,  you  will  take  the  sculls  ; 
if  they  call  for  oars,  you  will  both  go ;  if  he  considers 
Deaf    Stapleton    only   is   wanted,   you    will    remain    oa 


Jacob  Faithfiil  199 

shore  ;  or,  perhaps,  he  will  insist  upon  your  being  deaf, 
too." 

"  But  I  do  not  like  deceit." 

*'  No,  it's  not  right ;  although  it  appears  to  me  that 
there  is  a  great  deal  of  it.  Still  I  should  like  you  to  sham 
deaf,  and  then  tell  me  all  that  people  say.  It  would  be  so 
funny.     Father  never  will  tell  a  word." 

"  So  far,  your  father,  to  a  certain  degree,  excuses  him- 
self." 

"Well,  I  think  he  will  soon  tell  you  what  I  have  now 
told  you,  but  till  then  you  must  keep  your  promise  ;  and 
now  you  must  do  as  you  please,  as  I  must  go  down  in  the 
kitchen,  and  get  dinner  on  the  fire." 

"  I  have  nothing  to  do,"  replied  I  -,  "  can  I  help  you  ? " 

"  To  be  sure  you  can,  and  talk  to  me,  which  is  better 
still.  Come  down  and  wash  the  potatoes  for  me,  and  then 
I'll  find  you  some  more  work.  Well,  I  do  think  we  shall 
be  very  happy." 

I  followed  Mary  Stapleton  down  into  the  kitchen,  and 
we  were  soon  very  busy,  and  very  noisy,  laughing,  talking, 
blowing  the  fire,  and  preparing  the  dinner.  By  the  time 
that  her  father  came  home,  we  were  sworn  friends. 


Chapter   XXII 

Is  very  didactic,  and  treats  learnedly  on  the  various  senses,  and  "  human 
nature ;  "  is  also  diffuse  on  the  best  training  to  produce  a  moral  philo- 
sopher— Indeed,  it  contains  materials  with  which  to  build  up  one  system, 
and  half  a  dozen  theories,  as  these  things  are  now  made. 

I  WAS  rather  curious,  after  the  secret  confided  to  me  by 
Mary  Stapleton,  to  see  how  her  father  would  behave ;  but 
when  we  had  sat  and  talked  some  time,  as  he  appeared  to 
have  no  difficulty  in  answering  to  any  observation  in  a 
common  pitch  of  the  voice,  I  observed  to  him  that  he  was 
not  so  deaf  as  I  thought  he  was. 

"  No,  no,"  replied  he,  "  in  the  house  I  hear  very  well, 


200  Jacob  Faithful 

but  in  the  open  air  I  can't  hear  at  all,  if  a  person  speaks  to 
me  two  yards  oif.  Always  speak  to  me  close  to  my  ear  in 
the  open  air,  but  not  loud,  and  then  I  shall  hear  you  very 
well."  I  caught  a  bright  glance  from  Mary's  blue  eye,  and 
made  no  answer.  "  This  frost  will  hold,  I'm  afraid," 
continued  Stapleton,  "  and  we  shall  have  nothing  to 
do  for  some  days  but  to  blow  our  fingers  and  spend  our 
earnings  ;  but  there's  never  much  doing  at  this  time 
of  the  year.  The  winter  cuts  us  watermen  up  terribly. 
As  for  me,  I  smokes  my  pipe  and  thinks  on  human  natur  ; 
but  what  you  are  to  do,  Jacob,  I  can't  telL" 

"  Oh  !  he  will  teach  me  to  read  and  write,"  replied 
Mary. 

"  I  don't  know  that  he  shall,"  replied  Stapleton.  "  What's 
the  use  of  reading  and  writing  to  you  ?  We've  too  many 
senses  already  in  my  opinion,  and  if  so  be  we  have  learning 
to  boot,  why  then  all  the  worse  for  us." 

"  How  many  senses  are  there,  father  ? " 

"  How  many  !  I'm  sure  I  can't  tell,  but  more  than 
enough  to  puzzle  us." 

"  There  are  only  five,  I  beheve,"  said  I :  "  first,  there's 
hearing." 

**  Well,"  replied  Stapleton,  "  hearing  may  be  useful  at 
times,  but  not  hearing  at  times  is  much  more  convenient. 
I  make  twice  as  much  money  since  I  lost  the  better  part 
of  my  hearing." 

"Well,  then,  there's  seeing,"  continued  I. 

"  Seeing  is  useful  at  times,  I  acknowledge :  but  I  knows 
this,  that  if  a  man  could  pull  a  young  couple  about  the 
river,  and  not  be  able  to  see  now  and  then,  it  would  be 
many  a  half-crown  in  his  pocket." 

"  Well,  then,  now  we  come  to  tasting" 

"  No  use  at  all — only  a  vexation.  If  there  was  no 
tasting,  we  should  not  care  whether  we  ate  brown  bread 
or  roast  beef,  drank  water  or  XX  ale  j  and  in  these  hard 
times,  that  would  be  no  small  saving." 

"  Well,  then,  let  me  see,  there's  sme/ling." 

"  Smelling's  no  use  whatever.     For  one  good  smell  by 


Jacob  Faithful  201 

the  river's  side,  there  be  ten  nasty  ones ;  and  so  there  is 
everywhere,  to  my  conviction." 

"Which  is  the  next,  Jacob  ?"  said  Mary,  smiling  archly. 

''  Feelifig." 

"  Feeling  !  that's  the  worst  of  the  whole.  Always  feel 
too  cold  in  winter,  too  hot  in  summer — feel  a  blow  too ; 
feeling  only  gives  pain ;  that's  a  very  bad  sense." 

"Well,  then,  I  suppose  you  think  we  should  get  on 
better  without  our  senses." 

"  No,  not  without  all  of  them.  A  little  hearing  and  a 
little  seeing  be  all  very  well ;  but  there  are  other  senses 
which  you  have  forgot,  Jacob.  Now,  one  I  takes  to  be 
the  very  best  of  the  bunch  is  smoking." 

"I  never  heard  that  was  a  sense,"  replied  I,  laughing. 

"  Then  you  hav'n't  half  finished  your  education,  Jacob." 

"Are  reading  and  writing  senses,  father.?"  inquired 
Mary. 

"  To  be  sure  they  be,  girl;  for  without  sense  you  can't 
read  and  write  ;  and  rowing  be  a  sense  just  as  well ;  and 
there  be  many  other  senses  ;  but,  in  my  opinion,  most  of 
the  senses  be  nonsense,  and  only  lead  to  mischief." 

"Jacob,"  said  Mary,  whispering  to  my  ear,  "isn't  loving 
a  sense  .'' " 

"No,  that's  nonsense,"  replied  I. 

"Well,  then,"  replied  she,  "I  agree  with  my  father, 
that  nonsense  is  better  than  sense  j  but  still  I  don't  see 
why  I  should  not  learn  to  read  and  write,  father." 

"  I've  lived  all  my  life  without  it,  and  never  felt  the 
want  of  it — why  can't  you  .''  " 

"  Because  I  do  feel  the  want  of  it." 

"  So  you  may,  but  they  leads  to  no  good.  Look  at  those 
fellows  at  the  Feathers  •,  all  were  happy  enough  before 
Jim  Holder,  who  is  a  scholar,  came  among  them,  and  now 
since  he  reads  to  them,  they  do  nothing  but  grumble,  and 
growl,  and  talk  about  I  don't  know  what — corn  laws,  and 
taxes,  and  liberty,  and  all  other  nonsense.  Now,  what 
could  you  do  more  than  you  do  now,  if  you  larnt  to  read 
and  write  ? " 


202  Jacob  Faithful 

"  I  could  amuse  myself  when  I've  nothing  to  do,  father, 
when  you  and  Jacob  are  away.  I  often  sit  down,  after  I've 
done  all  my  work,  and  think  what  I  shall  do  next,  and  at 
last  I  look  out  of  the  window  and  make  faces  at  people, 
because  Fve  nothing  better  to  do.  Now,  father,  you  must 
let  him  learn  me  to  read  and  write." 

"  Well,  Mary,  if  you  will,  you  will ;  but  recollect,  don't 
blame  me  for  it — it  must  be  all  on  your  own  head,  and  not 
on  my  conscience.  I've  lived  some  forty  or  fifty  years  in 
this  world,  and  all  my  bad  luck  has  been  owing  to  having 
too  much  senses,  and  all  my  good  luck  to  getting  rid  of 
them." 

"  I  wish  you  would  tell  me  how  that  came  to  pass," 
said  I J  *'  I  should  like  to  hear  it  very  much,  and  it  will  be 
a  lesson  to  Mary." 

"  Well,  I  don't  care  if  I  do,  Jacob,  only  I  must  light  my 
pipe  first ;  and  Mary,  do  you  go  for  a  pot  o'  beer." 

"  Let  Jacob  go,  father.  I  mean  him  to  run  on  all  my 
errands  now." 

"  You  mustn't  order  Jacob,  Mary." 

"  No,  no — I  wouldn't  think  of  ordering  him,  but  I  know 
he  will  do  it — won't  you,  Jacob  ?  " 

"  Yes,  with  pleasure,"  replied  I. 

"  Well,  with  all  my  heart,  provided  it  be  all  for  love," 
said  Stapleton. 

"  Of  course  all  for  love,"  replied  Mary,  looking  at  me, 
"  or  Latin — which,  Jacob  ?  " 

"  What's  Latin  ?  "  said  her  father. 

"  Oh  !  that's  a  new  sense  Jacob  has  been  showing  me 
something  of,  which,  like  many  others,  proved  to  be  non- 
sense." 

I  went  for  the  beer,  and  when  I  returned  found  the  fire 
burning  brightly,  and  a  strong  sense  of  smoking  from  old 
Stapleton's  pipe.  He  puffed  once  or  twice  more,  and  then 
commenced  his  history  as  follows  : — 

**  I  can't  exactly  say  when  I  were  born,  nor  where,"  said 
old  Stapleton,  taking  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth,  "  because 
I  never  axed  either  father  or  mother,  and  they  never  told 


Jacob  Faithful  203 

me,  because  why  I  never  did  ax,  and  that  be  all  agreeable 
to  human  natur."  Here  Stapleton  paused,  and  took  three 
whiffs  of  his  pipe.  "  I  recollects  when  I  was  a  little  brat 
about  two  foot  nothing,  mother  used  to  whack  me  all  day 
long,  and  I  used  to  cry  in  proportion.  Father  used  to  cry 
shame,  and  then  mother  would  fly  at  him  :  he  would  whack 
she  ;  she  would  up  with  her  apron  in  one  corner  and  cry, 
while  I  did  the  same  with  my  pinbefore  in  another  :  all 
that  was  nothing  but  human  natur."  [A  pause,  and  six  or 
seven  whiffs  of  the  pipe.] 

"  I  was  sent  to  school  at  a  penny  a  week,  to  keep  me 
out  of  the  way,  and  out  of  mischief.  I  larnt  nothing  but 
to  sit  still  on  the  form  and  hold  my  tongue,  and  so  I  used 
to  amuse  myself  twiddling  my  thumbs,  and  looking  at  the 
flies  as  they  buzzed  about  the  room  in  the  summer  time ; 
and  in  the  winter,  'cause  there  was  no  flies  of  no  sort,  I 
used  to  watch  the  old  missus  a  knitting  of  stockings,  and 
think  how  soon  the  time  would  come  when  I  should  go 
home  and  have  my  supper,  which,  in  a  child,  was  nothing 
but  human  natur.  [Puff,  puff,  puff] — Father  and  mother 
lived  in  a  cellar  ;  mother  sold  coals  and  'tatoes,  and  father 
used  to  go  out  to  work  in  the  barges  on  the  river.  As 
soon  as  I  was  old  enough,  the  schoolmissus  sent  word  that 
I  ought  to  larn  to  read  and  write,  and  that  she  must  be 
paid  threepence  a  week  ;  so  father  took  me  away  from 
school,  because  he  thought  I  had  had  education  enough  ; 
and  mother  perched  me  on  a  basket  upside  down,  and  made 
me  watch  that  nobody  took  the  goods  while  she  was  busy 
down  below  ;  and  then  I  used  to  sit  all  day  long  watching 
the  coals  and  'tatoes,  and  never  hardly  speaking  to  nobody  ; 
so  having  nothing  better  to  do,  I  used  to  think  about  this, 
and  that,  and  every  thing,  and  when  dinner  would  be  ready, 
and  when  I  might  get  off  the  basket  j  for  you  see  thinking 
be  another  of  the  senses,  and  when  one  has  nothing  to  do, 
and  nothing  to  say,  to  think  be  nothing  more  than  human 
natur.  [Puff,  puff,  and  a  pause  for  a  drink  out  of  the  pot.] 
At  last,  I  grew  a  big  stout  boy,  and  mother  said  that  I  ate 
too  much,  and  must  earn  my  livelihood  somehow  or  other. 


204  Jacob  Faithful 

and  father  for  once  agreed  with  her  ;  but  there  was  a  little 
difficulty  how  that  was  to  be  done  •,  so  until  that  was  got 
over,  I  did  nothing  at  all  but  watch  the  coals  and  'tatoes 
as  before.  One  day  mother  wouldn't  give  me  wictuals 
enough,  so  I  helped  myself-,  so  she  whacked  me,  so  I, 
being  strong,  whacked  she ;  so  father,  coming  home, 
whacked  me,  so  I  takes  to  my  heels  and  runs  away  a 
good  mile  before  I  thought  at  all  about  how  I  was  to  live ; 
and  there  I  was,  very  sore,  very  unhappy,  and  very  hungry. 
[Puff,  puff,  puff,  and  a  spit.]  I  walks  on,  and  on,  and  then 
I  gets  behind  a  coach,  and  then  the  fellow  whips  me,  and 
I  gets  down  again  in  a  great  hurry,  and  tumbles  into  the 
road,  and  before  I  could  get  up  again,  a  gemman  in  a  gig 
drives  right  over  me  and  breaks  my  leg.  I  screams  with 
the  pain,  which  if  I  hadn't  had  the  sense  oi  feeling,  of 
course  I  shouldn't  have  minded.  He  pulls  up  and  gets 
out,  and  tells  me  he's  very  sorry.  I  tells  him  so  am  I. 
His  servant  calls  some  people,  and  they  takes  me  into 
a  public-house,  and  lays  me  on  the  table  all  among  the 
pots  of  beer,  sends  for  a  doctor  who  puts  me  into  bed, 
and  puts  my  leg  right  again  ;  and  then  I  was  provided 
for,  for  at  least  six  weeks,  during  which  the  gem- 
man  calls  and  axes  how  I  feel  myself;  and  I  says, 
'  Pretty  well,  I  thanky.'  [Puff,  puff — knock  the  ashes  out, 
pipe  refilled,  relighted,  a  drink  of  beer,  and  go  on.]  So 
v/hen  I  was  well,  and  on  my  pins  again,  the  gentleman  says, 
'  "What  can  I  do  for  you  ? '  and  the  landlord  cuts  him  short, 
by  saying,  that  he  wanted  a  pot-boy,  if  I  liked  the  profes- 
sion. Now,  if  I  didn't  like  the  pots  I  did  the  porter, 
which  I  had  no  share  of  at  home,  so  I  agrees.  The  gem- 
man  pays  the  score,  gives  me  half  a  guinea,  and  tells  me 
not  to  be  lying  in  the  middle  of  the  road  another  time.  I 
tells  him  I  won't,  so  he  jumps  into  his  gig,  and  I've  never 
cast  eyes  upon  him  since.  I  stayed  three  years  with  my 
master,  taking  out  beer  to  his  customers,  and  always  taking 
a  little  out  of  each  pot  for  myself,  for  that's  nothing  but 
human  natur,  when  you  likes  a  thing  ;  but  I  never  got 
into  no  trouble  until  one  day  I  sees  my  missus  a  kissing  in 


Jacob  Faithful  205 

the  back  parlour  with  a  fellow  who  travels  for  orders.  I 
never  said  nothing  at  first ;  but  at  last  I  sees  too  much,  and 
then  I  tells  master,  who  gets  into  a  rage,  and  goes  in  to  his 
wife,  stays  with  her  half  an  hour,  and  then  comes  out  and 
kicks  me  out  of  the  door,  calling  me  a  liar,  and  telling  me 
never  to  show  my  face  again.  I  shies  a  pot  at  his  head,  and 
showed  him  any  thing  but  my  face,  for  I  took  to  my  heels, 
and  ran  for  it  as  fast  as  I  could.  So  much  for  seeing ;  if  I 
hadn't  seen,  that  wouldn't  have  happened.  So  there  I  was 
adrift,  and  good-bye  to  porter.  [Puff,  pufF;  "  Mary, 
where's  my  'baccy  stopper  ?  "  poke  down,  puff,  puff,  spit, 
and  proceed.]  Well,  I  walks  towards  Lunnen,  thinking  on 
husbands  and  wives,  porter  and  human  natur,  until  I  finds 
myself  there,  and  then  I  looks  at  all  the  lighted  lamps,  and 
recollects  that  I  haven't  no  lodging  for  the  night,  and  then  all 
of  a  sudden  I  thinks  of  my  father  and  mother,  and  wonders 
how  they  be  going  on.  So  I  thought  I'd  go  and  see,  and 
away  I  went ;  comes  to  the  cellar,  and  goes  down.  There 
is  my  mother  with  a  quartern  of  gin  before  her,  walking 
to  and  fro,  and  whimpering  to  herself ;  so  says  I,  '  mother, 
what's  the  matter  now  ? '  at  which  she  jumps  up  and  hugs 
me,  and  tells  me  I'm  her  only  comfort  left.  I  looks  at  the 
quartern  and  thinks  otherwise  ;  so  down  I  sits  by  her  side, 
and  then  she  pours  me  out  a  glass,  and  pours  out  all  her 
grief,  telling  me  how  my  father  had  left  her  for  another 
woman,  who  kept  another  cellar  in  another  street,  and  how 
she  was  very  unhappy,  and  how  she  had  taken  to  gin — 
which  was  nothing  but  human  natur,  you  see,  and  how  she 
meant  to  make  away  with  herself;  and  then  she  sent  for 
more  quarterns,  and  we  finished  them.  What  with  the  joy 
of  finding  me,  and  the  grief  at  losing  my  father,  and  the 
quarterns  of  gin,  she  went  to  bed  crying  drunk,  and  fell  fast 
asleep.  So  did  I,  and  thought  home  was  home,  after  all. 
Next  morning  I  takes  up  the  business,  and  finds  trade  not 
so  bad  after  all ;  so  I  takes  the  command  of  all,  keeps  all 
the  money,  and  keeps  mother  in  order ;  and  don't  allow 
drinking  nor  disorderly  conduct  in  the  house  j  but  goes  to 
the  public-house  every  night  for  a  pipe  and  a  pot. 


2o6  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Well,  everything  goes  on  very  well  for  a  month,  when 
who  should  come  home  but  father,  which  I  didn't  approve 
of,  because  I  liked  being  master.  So,  I  being  a  strong 
chap,  then  says,  '  If  you  be  come  to  ill-treat  my  mother, 
I'll  put  you  in  the  kennel,  father.  Be  off  to  your  new 
woman.  Ar'n't  you  ashamed  of  yourself  ? '  says  I.  So 
father  looks  me  in  the  face,  and  tells  me  to  stand  out  of  his 
way,  or  he'll  make  cat's  meat  of  me  ;  and  then  he  goes  to 
my  mother,  and  after  a  quarter  of  an  hour  of  sobbing  on 
her  part,  and  coaxing  on  his,  they  kiss  and  make  friends  : 
and  then  they  both  turns  to  me,  and  orders  me  to  leave  the 
cellar,  and  never  to  show  my  face  again.  I  refuses  :  father 
flies  at  me,  and  mother  helps  him ;  and  between  the  two  I 
was  hustled  out  to  find  my  bread  how  and  where  I  could. 
I've  never  taken  a  woman's  part  since.  [Puff,  puff,  puff, 
and  a  deep  sigh.]  I  walks  down  to  the  water-side,  and 
having  one  or  two  shillings  in  my  pocket,  goes  into  a  public- 
house  to  get  a  drop  of  drink  and  a  bed.  And  when  I 
comes  in,  I  sees  a  man  hand  a  note  for  change  to  the  land- 
lady, and  she  gives  him  change.  *  That  won't  do,'  says  he, 
and  he  was  half  tipsy  :  *  I  gave  you  a  ten-pound  note,  and 
this  here  lad  be  witness.'  '  It  was  only  a  one,^  says  the 
woman.  *  You  are  a  d — d  old  cheat,'  says  he,  *  and  if  you 
don't  give  me  the  change,  I'll  set  your  house  on  fire,  and 
burn  you  alive.'  With  that  there  was  a  great  row,  and  he 
goes  out  for  the  constable,  and  gives  her  in  charge,  and 
gives  me  in  charge  as  a  witness,  and  then  she  gives  him  in 
charge,  and  so  we  all  went  to  the  watch-house  together,  and 
slept  on  the  benches.  The  next  morning  we  all  appeared 
before  the  magistrate,  and  the  man  tells  his  story,  and  calls 
me  as  a  witness  ;  but  recollecting  how  much  I  had  suffered 
from  seeing,  I  wouldn't  see  anything  this  time.  It  might 
have  been  a  ten-pound  note,  for  it  certainly  didn't  look  like 
a  one ;  but  my  evidence  went  rather  for  than  against  the 
woman,  for  I  only  proved  the  man  to  be  drunk ;  and  she 
was  let  off,  and  I  walked  home  with  her.  So  says  she, 
'  You're  a  fine  boy,  and  I'll  do  you  a  good  turn  for  what 
you  have  done  for  me.     My  husband  is  a  waterman,  and 


Jacob  Faithful  207 

I'll  make  you  free  of  the  river ;  for  he  hasn't  no  'prentice, 
and  you  can  come  on  shore  and  stay  at  the  public-house, 
when  you  ar'n't  wanted.'  I  jumped  at  the  offer,  and  so,  by 
not  seeing,  I  gets  into  a  regular  livelihood.  Well,  Jacob, 
how  do  you  like  it  ?  " 

"  Very  much,"  replied  I. 

"  And  you,  Mary?" 

"  O !  I  like  it  very  much  ;  but  I  want  father  to  go  on, 
and  to  know  how  he  fell  in  love,  and  married  my 
mother." 

"  Well,  you  shall  have  it  all  by-and-bye ;  but  now  I 
must  take  a  spell." 


Chapter  XXIIl 

A  very  sensible  chapter,  having  reference  to  the  senses— Stapleton,  by 
keeping  his  under  control,  keeps  his  head  above  water  in  his  wherry — 
Forced  to  fight  for  his  wife,  and  when  he  had  won  her,  to  fight  on  to 
keep  her — No  great  prize,  yet  it  made  him  a  prize-fighter. 

Old  Stapleton  finished  his  pipe,  took  another  swig  at  the 
porter,  filled,  relighted,  puffed  to  try  it,  cleared  his  mouth, 
and  then  proceeded  : — 

"  Now  you  see,  Bartley,  her  husband,  was  the  greatest 
rogue  on  the  river  5  he  was  up  to  everything,  and  stood 
at  nothing.  He  fleeced  as  much  on  the  water  as  she  did 
on  the  land  ;  for  I  often  seed  her  give  wrong  change  after- 
wards when  people  were  tipsy,  but  I  made  a  rule  always 
to  walk  away.  As  for  Bartley,  his  was  always  night 
work,  and  many's  the  coil  of  rope  I  have  brought  on 
shore,  what,  although  he  might  have  paid  for,  he  didn't 
buy  it  of  the  lawful  owner,  but  I  never  seed  or  heard,  that 
was  my  maxim  ;  and  I  fared  well  till  I  served  my  time, 
and  then  they  gave  me  their  old  wherry,  and  built  a  new 
one  for  themselves.  So  I  set  up  on  my  own  account,  and 
then  I  seed,  and  heard,  and  had  all  my  senses,  just  as  they 
were  before — more's  the  pity,  for  no  good  came  of  it. 
[Puff,  puff,  puff,  puff.]     The  Bsrtleys  wanted  me  to  join 


2,0  8  Jacob  Faithful 

them,  but  that  wouldn't  do ;  for  though  I  never  meddled 
with  other  people's  concerns,  yet  I  didn't  choose  to  go 
wrong  myself.  I've  seed  all  the  world  cheating  each  other 
for  fifty  years  or  more,  but  that's  no  concern  of  mine ;  I 
can't  make  the  world  better ;  so  all  I  thinks  about  is  to 
keep  honest  myself :  and  if  every  one  was  to  look  after  his 
own  soul,  and  not  trouble  themselves  about  their  neigh- 
bours, why  then  it  would  be  all  the  better  for  human 
natur.  I  plied  at  the  Swan  Stairs,  gained  my  livelihood, 
and  spent  it  as  I  got  it ;  for  I  was  then  too  young  to  look 
out  a'ter  a  rainy  day. 

"  One  night  a  young  woman  in  a  cloak  comes  down  to 
the  stairs  with  a  bundle  in  her  arms,  and  seems  in  a  very 
great  taking,  and  asks  me  for  a  boat.  I  hauls  out  of  the 
row  alongside  of  the  hard,  and  hands  her  in.  She  trips  as 
she  steps  in,  and  I  catches  to  save  her  from  falling,  and  in 
catching  her  I  puts  my  hand  upon  the  bundle  in  her  arms, 
and  feels  the  warm  face  of  a  baby.  '  Where  am  I  to  go, 
ma'am  ? '  says  I.  '  O !  pull  across,  and  land  me  on  the 
other  side,'  says  she  ;  and  then  I  hears  her  sobbing  to 
herself,  as  if  her  heart  would  break.  When  we  were  in 
the  middle  o'  the  stream,  she  lifts  up  her  head,  and  then 
first  she  looks  at  the  bundle  and  kisses  it,  and  then  she 
looks  up  at  the  stars  which  were  glittering  above  in  the 
sky.  She  kisses  the  child  once  more,  jumps  up,  and  afore 
I  could  be  aware  of  what  she  was  about,  she  tosses  me  her 
purse,  throws  her  child  into  the  water,  and  leaps  in  her- 
self. I  pulls  sharp  round  immediately,  and  seeing  her 
again,  I  made  one  or  two  good  strokes,  comes  alongside  of 
her,  and  gets  hold  of  her  clothes.  A'ter  much  ado  I  gets 
her  into  the  wherry,  and  as  soon  as  I  seed  she  was  come 
to  again,  I  pulls  her  back  to  the  stairs  where  she  had  taken 
me  from.  As  soon  as  I  lands  I  hears  a  noise  and  talking, 
and  several  people  standing  about ;  it  seems  it  were  her 
relatives,  who  had  missed  her,  and  were  axing  whether 
she  had  taken  a  boat ;  and  while  they  were  describing  her, 
and  the  other  watermen  were  telling  them  how  I  had 
taken  a  fare  of  that  description,  I  brings  her  back.     Well, 


Jacob  Faithful  209 

they  takes  charge  of  her,  and  leads  her  home  ;  and  then 
for  the  first  time  I  thinks  of  the  purse  at  the  bottom  of 
the  boat,  which  I  picks  up,  and  sure  enough  there  were 
four  golden  guineas  in  it,  beside  some  silver.  Well,  the 
men  who  plied  at  the  stairs  axed  me  all  about  it  ;  but  I 
keeps  my  counsel,  and  only  tells  them  how  the  poor  giri 
threw  herself  into  the  water,  and  how  I  pulled  her  out 
again  ;  and  in  a  week  I  had  almost  forgot  all  about  it, 
when  up  comes  an  officer,  and  says  to  me,  '  You  be 
Stapleton  the  waterman  ? '  and  I  says,  '  Yes,  I  be.'  '  Then 
you  must  come  along  with  me ; '  and  he  takes  me  to  the 
police-office,  where  I  finds  the  poor  young  woman  in 
custody  for  being  accused  of  having  murdered  her  infant. 
So  they  begins  to  tax  me  upon  my  Bible  oath,  and  I  was 
forced  to  tell  the  whole  story  ;  for  though  you  may  lose 
all  your  senses  when  convenient,  yet  somehow  or  another, 
an  oath  on  the  Bible  brings  them  all  back  again.  '  Did 
you  see  the  child  .'* '  said  the  magistrate.  '  I  seed  a  bundle,' 
said  I.  '  Did  you  hear  the  child  cry  ? '  said  he.  *  No,' 
says  I,  *  I  didn't ; '  and  then  I  thought  I  had  got  the  young 
woman  off;  but  the  magistrate  was  an  old  fox,  and  had  all 
the  senses  at  his  fingers'  ends.  So  says  he,  '  When  the 
young  woman  stepped  into  the  boat,  did  she  give  you  the 
bundle  ? '  '  No,'  says  I  again.  '  Then  you  never  touched 
it  ? '  *  Yes,  I  did,  when  her  foot  slipped.'  '  And  what 
did  it  feel  like  ? '  'It  felt  like  a  piece  of  human  natur,' 
says  I,  *  and  quite  warm  like.'  '  How  do  you  mean? '  says 
he.  '  Why,  I  took  it  by  the  feel  for  a  baby.'  '  And  it 
was  quite  warm,  was  it  ? '  '  Yes,'  replied  I,  *  it  was.' 
'  Well  then,  what  else  took  place  ? '  '  Why,  when  we 
were  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  she  and  her  child  went 
overboard  ;  I  pulled  her  in  again,  but  couldn't  see  the 
child.'  Fortunately  for  the  poor  girl,  they  didn't  ask  me 
which  went  overboard  first,  and  that  saved  her  from 
hanging.  She  was  confined  six  months  in  prison,  and  then 
let  out  again  ;  but  you  see,  if  it  hadn't  been  for  my  un- 
fortunately feeling  the  child,  and  feeling  it  was  warm, 
what  proved  its  being  alive,  the  poor  young  woman  would 
J.F.  o 


2IO  Jacob  Faithful 

have  got  oiT  altogether,  perhaps.  So  much  for  the  sense 
of  feeling,  which  I  say  is  of  no  use  to  nobody,  but  only  a 
vexation."     [Puff — the  pipe  out,  relighted — puff,  puff.] 

"  But,  father,"  said  Mary,  "  did  you  ever  hear  the 
history  of  the  poor  girl  ? " 

"  Yes,  I  heard  as  how  it  was  a  hard  case,  how  she  had 
been  seduced  by  some  fellow  who  had  left  her  and  her 
baby,  upon  which  she  determined  to  drown  herself,  poor 
thing !  and  her  baby  too.  Had  she  only  tried  to  drown 
her  baby,  I  should  have  said  it  was  quite  unnatural ;  but 
as  she  wished  to  drown  herself  at  the  same  time,  I  con- 
siders that  drowning  the  baby  to  take  it  to  heaven  with 
her  was  quite  natural,  and  all  agreeable  to  human  natur. 
Love's  a  sense  which  young  women  should  keep  down  as 
much  as  possible,  Mary  ;  no  good  comes  of  that  sense." 

"  And  yet,  father,  it  appears  to  me  to  be  human  nature," 
replied  Mary. 

"So  it  is,  but  there's  mischief  in  it,  girl,  so  do  you 
never  have  anything  to  do  with  it." 

"  Was  there  mischief  when  you  fell  in  love  with  my 
mother  and  married  her  ? " 

*'  You  shall  hear,  Mary,"  replied  old  Stapleton,  who  re- 
commenced. 

"  It  was  'bout  two  months  after  the  poor  girl  threw 
herself  into  the  river,  that  I  first  seed  your  mother.  She 
was  then  mayhap  two  years  older  than  you  may  be,  and 
much  such  a  same  sort  of  person  in  her  looks.  There  was 
a  young  man  who  plied  from  our  stairs,  named  Ben  Jones ; 
he  and  I  were  great  friends,  and  used  for  to  help  each 
other,  and  when  a  fare  called  for  oars,  used  to  ply  together. 
One  night  he  says  to  me,  '  Will,  come  up,  and  I'll  show 
you  a  devilish  fine  piece  of  stuff.'  So  I  walks  with  him, 
and  he  takes  me  to  a  shop  where  they  dealed  in  marine 
stores,  and  we  goes  and  finds  your  mother  in  the  back 
parlour.  Ben  sends  out  for  pipes  and  beer,  and  we  sat  down 
and  made  ourselves  comfortable.  Now,  Mary,  your  mother 
was  a  very  jilting  kind  of  girl,  who  would  put  one  fellov/ 
off  to  take  another,  just  as  her  whim  and  fancy  took  her.    [I 


Jacob  Faithful  211 

looked  at  Mary,  who  cast  down  her  eyes.]  Now  these 
women  do  a  mint  of  mischief  among  men,  and  it  seldom 
ends  well ;  and  I'd  sooner  see  you  in  your  coffin  to-morrow, 
Mary,  than  think  you  should  be  one  of  this  flaunting  sort. 
Ben  Jones  was  quite  in  for  it,  and  wanted  for  to  marry  her, 
and  she  had  turned  off  a  fine  young  chap  for  him,  and  he 
used  to  come  there  every  night,  and  it  was  supposed  that 
they  would  be  spliced  in  the  course  of  a  month  ;  but  when 
I  goes  there  she  cuts  him  almost  altogether,  and  takes  to 
me,  making  such  eyes  at  me,  and  drinking  beer  out  of  my 
pot,  and  refusing  his'n,  till  poor  Jones  was  quite  mad  and 
beside  himself.  Well,  it  wasn't  in  human  natur  to  stand 
those  large  blue  eyes  (just  like  yours,  Mary,)  darting  fire 
at  a  poor  fellow ;  and  when  Jones  got  up  in  a  surly 
humour,  and  said  it  was  time  to  go  away,  instead  of  walk- 
ing home  arm  in  arm,  we  went  side  by  side,  like  two  big 
dogs,  with  their  tails  as  stiff  as  a  crow-bar,  and  all  ready 
for  a  fight ;  neither  he  nor  I  saying  a  word,  and  we  parted 
without  saying  good-night.  Well,  I  dreamed  of  your 
mother  all  that  night  and  the  next  day  went  to  see  her, 
and  felt  worser  and  worser  each  time,  and  she  snubbed 
Jones,  and  at  last  told  him  to  go  about  his  business.  This 
was  'bout  a  month  after  I  had  first  seen  her ;  and  then  one 
day  Jones,  who  was  a  prime  fighter,  says  to  me,  '  Be  you 
a  man  ? '  and  slaps  me  on  the  ear.  So,  I  knowing  what 
he'd  be  a'ter,  pulls  off  my  duds,  and  we  sets  to.  We 
fights  for  ten  minutes  or  so,  and  then  I  hits  him  a  round 
blow  on  the  ear,  and  he  falls  down  on  the  hard,  and 
couldn't  come  to  time.  No  wonder,  poor  fellow !  for  he 
had  gone  to  eternity.  [Here  old  Stapleton  paused  for 
half  a  minute,  and  passed  his  hand  across  his  eyes.]  I  was 
tried  for  manslaughter  j  but  it  being  proved  that  he  came 
up  and  struck  me  first,  I  was  acquitted,  after  lying  two 
months  in  gaol,  for  I  couldn't  get  no  bail ;  but  it  was 
because  I  had  been  two  months  in  gaol  that  I  was  let  off. 
At  first,  when  I  came  out,  I  determined  never  to  see  your 
mother  again  ;  but  she  came  to  me,  and  wound  round  me, 
and  I  loved  her  so  much  that  I  couldn't  shake  her  off.     As 


212  Jacob  Faithful 

soon  as  she  found  that  I  was  fairly  hooked,  she  began  to 
play  with  others ;  but  I  wouldn't  stand  that,  and  every 
fellow  that  came  near  her  was  certain  to  have  a  turn  out 
with  me,  and  so  I  became  a  great  fighter  ;  and  she,  seeing 
that  I  was  the  best  man,  and  that  no  one  else  would  come 
to  her,  one  fine  morning  agreed  to  marry  me.  Well,  we 
were  spliced,  and  the  very  first  night  I  thought  I  saw  poor 
Ben  Jones  standing  by  my  bedside,  and,  for  a  week  or  so, 
I  was  not  comfortable  ;  but,  howsomever,  it  wore  off,  I 
plied  at  the  stairs,  and  gained  my  money.  But  my  pipe's 
out,  and  I'm  dry  with  talking.  Suppose  I  take  a  spell  for 
a  few  minutes." 

Stapleton  relighted  his  pipe,  and  for  nearly  half  an  hour 
smoked  in  silence.  What  Mary's  thoughts  were  I  cannot 
positively  assert ;  but  I  imagined  that,  like  myself,  she 
was  thinking  about  her  mother's  conduct  and  her  own. 
I  certainly  was  making  the  comparison,  and  we  neither 
of  us  spoke  a  word. 

"Well,"  continued  Stapleton,  at  last,  "I  married  your 
mother,  Mary,  and  I  only  hope  that  any  man  who  may 
take  a  fancy  to  you,  will  not  have  so  much  trouble  with 
his  wife  as  I  had.  I  thought  that  a'ter  she  were  settled 
she  would  give  up  all  her  nonsense,  and  behave  herself — 
but  I  suppose  it  was  in  her  natur  and  she  couldn't  help 
it.  She  made  eyes  and  gave  encouragement  to  the  men, 
until  they  became  saucy,  and  I  became  jealous,  and  I  had 
to  fight  one,  and  then  the  other,  until  I  became  a  noted 
pugilist.  I  will  say  that  your  mother  seemed  always  very 
happy  when  I  beat  my  man,  which  latterly  I  always  did  j 
but  still  she  liked  to  be  Jit  for,  and  I  had  hardly  time  to 
earn  my  bread.  At  last,  some  one  backed  me  against 
another  man  in  the  ring  for  fifty  pound  aside,  and  I  was 
to  have  half,  if  I  won.  I  was  very  short  of  blunt  at  the 
time,  and  I  agreed ;  so,  a'ter  a  little  training,  the  battle 
was  fought,  and  I  won  easy  j  and  the  knowing  ones  hked 
my  way  of  hitting  so  much  that  they  made  up  another 
match  with  a  better  man,  for  two  hundred  pounds ;  and 
a  lord  and  other  great  people  came  to  me,  and  I  was 


Jacob  Faithful  213 

introduced  to  them  at  the  public-house,  and  all  was 
settled.  So  I  became  a  regular  prize-fighter,  all  through 
your  mother,  Mary.  Nay,  don't  cry,  child,  I  don't  mean 
to  say  that  your  mother,  with  all  her  love  of  being  stared 
at  and  talked  to,  would  have  gone  wrong ;  but  still  it 
was  almost  as  bad  in  my  opinion.  Well,  I  was  put  into 
training,  and  after  five  weeks  we  met  at  Mousley  Hurst, 
and  a  hard  fight  it  was — but  I've  got  the  whole  of  it 
somewhere,  Mary ;  look  in  the  drawer  there,  and  you'll 
see  a  newspaper." 

Mary  brought  out  the  newspaper,  which  was  rolled  up 
and  tied  with  a  bit  of  string,  and  Stapleton  handed  it 
over  to  me,  telling  me  to  read  it  aloud.  I  did  so,  but 
I  shall  not  enter  into  the  details. 

"  Yes,  that's  all  right  enough,"  said  Stapleton,  who 
had  taken  advantage  of  my  reading  to  smoke  furiously 
to  make  up  for  lost  time;  "but  no  good  came  of  it,  for 
one  of  the  gemmen  took  a  fancy  to  your  mother,  Mary, 
and  tried  to  win  her  away  from  me.  I  found  him 
attempting  to  kiss  her,  and  she  refusing  him  —  but 
laughing,  and,  as  I  thought,  more  than  half-willing ;  so 
I  floored  him,  and  put  him  out  of  the  house,  and  after 
that  I  never  would  have  anything  more  to  say  with  lords 
and  gemmen,  nor  with  fighting  either,  I  built  a  new 
wherry  and  stuck  to  the  river,  and  I  shifted  my  lodgings, 
that  I  mightn't  mix  any  more  with  those  who  knew  me 
as  a  boxer.  Your  mother  was  then  brought  to  bed  with 
you,  and  I  hoped  for  a  good  deal  of  happiness,  as  I  thought 
she  would  only  think  of  her  husband  and  child ;  and 
so  she  did  until  you  were  weaned,  and  then  she  went 
on  just  as  afore.  There  was  a  captain  of  a  vessel  lying 
in  the  river,  who  used  now  and  then  to  stop  and  talk 
with  her ;  but  I  thought  little  about  that  seeing  how 
every  one  talked  with  her  and  she  with  everybody ;  and 
besides,  she  knew  the  captain's  wife,  who  was  a  very 
pretty  woman,  and  used  very  often  to  ask  Mary  to  go 
and  see  her,  which  I  permitted.  But  one  morning,  when 
I  was  going  off  to  the  boat — for  he  had  come  down  to 


2  14  Jacob  Faithful 

me  to  take  him  to  his  vessel — just  as  I  was  walking  away 
with  the  sculls  over  my  shoulder,  I  recollects  my  'baccy 
box,  which  I  had  left,  and  I  goes  back  and  hears  him 
say  before  I  came  into  the  door — *  Recollect,  I  shall  be 
here   again  by   two  o'clock,   and    then   you  promised    to 

come   on  board   my   ship,    and   see  '  I    didn't    hear 

the  rest,  but  she  laughed  and  said  yes,  she  would.  I 
didn't  show  myself,  but  walked  away  and  went  to  the 
boat.  He  followed  me,  and  I  rowed  him  up  the  river 
and  took  my  fare — and  then  I  determined  to  watch  them, 
for  I  felt  mighty  jealous.  So,  I  lays  off  on  my  oars 
in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  and  sure  enough  I  see  the 
captain  and  your  mother  get  into  a  small  skiff  belonging 
to  his  ship,  and  pull  away  ;  the  captain  had  one  oar  and 
one  of  his  men  another.  I  pulled  a'ter  them  as  fast  as 
I  could,  and  at  last  they  seed  me ;  and  not  wishing  me 
to  find  her  out,  she  begged  them  to  pull  away  as  fast 
as  they  could,  for  she  knew  how  savage  I  would  be. 
Still  I  gained  upon  them,  every  now  and  then  looking 
round  and  vowing  vengeance  in  my  heart,  when  all  of 
a  sudden  I  heard  a  scream,  and  perceived  their  boat  to 
capsize,  and  all  hands  in  the  water.  They  had  not  seen 
a  warp  of  a  vessel  getting  into  the  row,  and  had  run 
over  it,  and,  as  it  tautened,  they  capsized.  Your  mother 
went  down  like  a  stone,  Mary,  and  was  not  found  for 
three  days  a'terward  ;  and  when  I  seed  her  sink  I  fell 
down  in  a  fit."  Here  old  Stapleton  stopped,  laid  down 
his  pipe,  and  rested  his  face  in  his  hands.  Mary  burst 
into  tears.  After  a  few  minutes  he  resumed :  "  When 
I  came  to,  I  found  myself  on  board  of  the  ship  in  the 
captain's  cabin,  with  the  captain  and  his  wife  watching 
over  me — and  then  I  came  to  understand  that  it  was  she 
who  had  sent  for  your  mother,  and  that  she  was  living 
on  board,  and  that  your  mother  had  at  first  refused, 
because  she  knew  that  I  did  not  like  her  to  be  on  the 
river,  but  wishing  to  see  a  ship,  had  consented.  So  it 
was  not  so  bad  a'ter  all,  only  that  a  woman  shouldn't  act 
without  her  husband — but  you  see,  Mary,  all  this  would 


Jacob  Faithful  215 

not  have  happened  if  it  hadn't  been  that  I  overheard  part 
of  what  was  said ;  and  you  might  now  have  had  a  mother, 
and  I  a  wife  to  comfort  us,  if  it  had  not  been  for  my 
unfortunate  hearing — so,  as  I  said  before,  there's  more 
harm  than  good  that  comes  from  these  senses — at  least 
so  it  has  proved  to  me.  And  now  you  have  heard  my 
story,  and  how  your  mother  died,  Mary ;  so  take  care 
you  don't  fall  into  the  same  fault,  and  be  too  fond  of 
being  looked  at,  which  it  does  somehow  or  another  appear 
to  me  you  have  a  bit  of  a  hankling  a'ter — but  like 
mother  like  child,  they  say,  and  that's  human  naturP 

When  Stapleton  had  concluded  his  narrative,  he  smoked 
his  pipe  in  silence.  Mary  sat  at  the  table,  with  her  hands 
pressed  to  her  temples,  apparently  in  deep  thought ;  and 
I  felt  anything  but  communicative.  In  half  an  hour  the 
pot  of  beer  was  finished,  and  Stapleton  rose. 

"  Come,  Mary,  don't  be  thinking  so  much ;  let's  all 
go  to  bed.     Show  Jacob  his  room,  and  then  come  up." 

"  Jacob  can  find  his  own  room,  father,"  replied  Mary, 
"  without  my  showing  him  j  he  knows  the  kitchen,  and 
there  is  but  one  other  below." 

I  took  my  candle,  wished  them  good-night,  and  went 
to  my  bed,  which,  although  very  homely,  was  at  all 
events  comfortable. 


Chapter  XXIV 

The  warmth  of  my  gratitude  proved  by  a  very  cold  test — The  road  to 
fortune  may  sometimes  lead  over  a  bridge  of  ice — Mine  lay  under  it — 
Amor  Vincet  everything  but  my  obstinacy,  which  young  Tom  and  the 
old  Domine  in  the  sequel  will  prove  to  their  cost. 

For  many  days  the  frost  continued,  until  at  last  the  river 
was  frozen  over,  and  all  communication  by  it  was  stopped. 
Stapleton's  money  ran  short,  our  fare  became  very  in- 
different, and  Mary  declared  that  we  must  all  go  begging 
with  the  market  gardeners  if  it  lasted  much  longer. 


2i6  Jacob  Faithful 

"I  must  go  and  call  upon  Mr  Turnbull,  and  ax  him 
to  help  us,"  said  Stapleton,  one  day,  puUing  his  last 
shilling  out  and  laying  it  on  the  table.  **  I'm  cleaned 
out ;  but  he's  a  good  gentleman,  and  will  lend  me  a 
trifle."  In  the  afternoon  Stapleton  returned,  and  I  saw 
by  his  looks  that  he  had  been  successful.  "  Jacob," 
said  he,  "  Mr  Turnbull  desires  that  you  will  breakfast 
with  him  to-morrow  morning,  as  he  wishes  to  see  you." 

I  set  off  accordingly  at  daylight  the  next  morning,  and 
was  in  good  time  for  breakfast.  Mr  Turnbull  was  as 
kind  as  ever,  and  began  telling  me  long  stories  about 
the  ice  in  the  northern  regions. 

"  By-the-by,  I  hear  there  is  an  ox  to  be  roasted  whole, 
Jacob,  a  little  above  London  Bridge  ;  suppose  we  go  and 
see  the  fun." 

I  consented,  and  we  took  the  Brentford  coach,  and  were 
put  down  at  the  corner  of  Queen  Street,  from  whence  we 
walked  to  the  river.  The  scene  was  very  amusing  and 
exciting.  Booths  were  erected  on  the  ice,  in  every  direc- 
tion, with  flags  flying,  people  walking,  and  some  skating, 
although  the  ice  was  too  rough  for  that  pastime.  The 
whole  river  was  crowded  with  people,  who  now  walked  in 
security  over  where  they  a  month  before  would  have  met 
with  death.  Here  and  there  smoke  ascended  from  various 
fires,  on  which  sausages  and  other  eatables  were  cooking  •, 
but  the  great  attraction  was  the  ox  roasting  whole,  close 
to  the  centre  pier  of  the  bridge.  Although  the  ice  ap- 
peared to  have  fallen  at  the  spot  where  so  many  hundreds 
were  assembled,  yet  as  it  was  now  four  or  five  feet  thick, 
there  was  no  danger.  Here  and  there,  indeed,  were  what 
were  called  rotten  places,  where  the  ice  was  not  sound  5 
but  these  were  intimated  by  placards,  warning  people  not 
to  approach  too  near  j  and  close  to  them  were  ropes  and 
poles  for  succour,  if  required.  We  amused  ourselves  for 
some  time  with  the  gaiety  of  the  scene,  for  the  sun  shone 
out  brightly,  and  the  sky  was  clear.  The  wind  was  fresh 
from  the  northward,  and  piercing  cold  in  the  shade,  the 
thermometer  being  then,  it  was  said,  twenty-eight  degrees 


Jacob  Faithful  217 

below  the  freezing  point.  We  had  been  on  the  ice  about 
three  hours,  amusing  ourselves,  when  Mr  Turnbull  pro- 
posed our  going  home,  and  we  walked  up  the  river 
towards  Blackfriars  Bridge  where  we  proposed  to  land, 
and  take  the  coach  at  Charing  Cross. 

"  I  wonder  how  the  tide  is  now,"  observed  Mr  Turnbull 
to  me  J  "it  would  be  rather  puzzling  to  find  out." 

"  Not  if  I  can  find  a  hole,"  replied  I,  looking  for  one. 
"  Stop,  here  is  one."  I  threw  in  a  piece  of  ice,  and  found 
that  it  was  strong  ebb.  We  continued  our  walk  over  the 
ice,  which  was  now  very  rough,  when  Mr  Turnbull's  hat 
fell  oiF,  and  the  wind  catching  it,  it  blew  away,  skimming 
across  the  ice,  at  a  rapid  rate.  Mr  Turnbull  and  I  gave 
chase,  but  could  scarcely  keep  up  with  it,  and,  at  all 
events,  could  not  overtake  it.  Many  people  on  the  river 
laughed  as  we  passed,  and  watched  us  in  our  chase.  Mr 
Turnbull  was  the  foremost  and,  heedless  in  the  pursuit, 
did  not  observe  a  large  surface  of  rotten  ice  before  him  ; 
neither  did  I,  until  all  at  once  I  heard  it  break  and  saw  Mr 
Turnbull  fall  in  and  disappear.  Many  people  were  close 
to  us,  and  a  rope  was  laid  across  the  spot  to  designate  the 
danger.  I  did  not  hesitate — I  loved  Mr  Turnbull,  and  my 
love  and  my  feelings  of  resentment  were  equally  potent. 
I  seized  the  bight  of  the  rope,  twisted  it  round  my  arm, 
and  plunged  in  after,  recollecting  it  was  ebb  tide:  fortunate 
for  Mr  Turnbull  it  was  that  he  had  accidentally  put  the 
question.  I  sank  under  the  ice,  and  pushed  down  the 
stream,  and  in  a  few  seconds  felt  myself  grappled  by  him  I 
sought,  and  at  almost  the  same  time,  the  rope  hauling  in 
from  above.  As  soon  as  they  found  there  was  resistance, 
they  knew  that  I,  at  least,  was  attached  to  it,  and  they 
hauled  in  quicker,  not,  however,  until  I  had  lost  my 
recollection.  Still  I  clung  to  the  rope  with  the  force  of 
a  drowning  man,  and  Mr  Turnbull  did  the  same  to  me, 
and  we  shortly  made  our  appearance  at  the  hole  in  which 
we  had  been  plunged.  A  ladder  was  thrown  across,  and 
two  of  the  men  of  the  Humane  Society  came  to  our  assist- 
ance, pulled  us  out,  and  laid  us  upon  it.     They  then  drew 


2i8  Jacob  Faithful 

back  and  hauled  us  on  the  ladder  to  a  more  secure  situa- 
tion. We  were  both  still  senseless ;  but  having  been 
taken  to  a  public-house  on  the  river-side,  were  put  to 
bed,  and  medical  advice  having  been  procured,  were  soon 
restored.  The  next  morning  we  were  able  to  return  in  a 
chaise  to  Brentford,  where  our  absence  had  created  the 
greatest  alarm.  Mr  Turnbull  spoke  but  little  the  whole 
time ;  but  he  often  pressed  my  hand,  and  when  I  re- 
quested him  to  drop  me  at  Fulham,  that  I  might  let 
Stapleton  and  his  daughter  know  that  I  was  safe,  he 
consented,  saying,  "  God  bless  you,  my  fine  boy  ;  I  will 
see  you  soon." 

When  I  went  up  the  stairs  of  Stapleton's  lodgings,  I 
found  Mary  by  herself  5  she  started  up  as  soon  as  she  saw 
me. 

*'  Where  have  you  been,  you  naughty  boy  ?  "  said  she, 
half  crying,  half  smiling. 

"  Under  the  ice,"  I  replied,  *'  and  only  thawed  again 
this  morning." 

"  Are  you  in  earnest,  Jacob  ?  "  said  she  j  "  now  don't 
plague  and  frighten  me,  I've  been  too  frightened  already. 
I  never  slept  a  wink  last  night."  I  then  told  her  the 
circumstances  which  had  occurred.  "  I  was  sure  some- 
thing had  happened,"  she  replied.  "  I  told  my  father  so, 
but  he  wouldn't  believe  it.  You  promised  to  be  at  home 
to  give  me  my  lesson,  and  I  know  you  never  break  your 
word  ;  but  my  father  smoked  away,  and  said,  that  when 
boys  are  amused,  they  forget  their  promises,  and  that  it 
was  nothing  but  human  natur.  O  Jacob,  I'm  so  glad 
you're  back  again,  and  after  what  has  happened,  I  don't 
mind  your  kissing  me  for  once."  And  Mary  held  her  face 
towards  me,  and  returned  my  kiss. 

"  There,  that  must  last  you  a  long  while,  recollect," 
said  she,  laughing  ;  "  you  must  not  think  of  another,  until 
you're  under  the  ice  again." 

*'  Then  I  trust  it  will  be  the  last,"  replied  I,  laughing. 

"  You  are  not  in  love  with  me,  Jacob,  that's  clear,  or 
you  would  not  have  made  that  answer,"  replied  Mary. 


Jacob  Faithful  219 

I  had  seen  a  great  deal  of  Mary,  and  though  she  certainly 
was  a  great  flirt,  yet  she  had  many  excellent  and  amiable 
qualities.  For  the  first  week  after  her  father  had  given 
us  the  history  of  his  life,  his  remarks  upon  her  mother 
appeared  to  have  made  a  decided  impression  upon  her,  and 
her  conduct  was  much  more  staid  and  demure ;  but  as 
the  remembrance  wore  off,  so  did  her  conduct  become 
coquettish  and  flirting  as  before ;  still  it  was  impossible 
not  to  be  fond  of  her,  and  even  with  all  her  caprice  there 
was  such  a  fund  of  real  good  feeling  and  amiableness, 
which  when  called  forth  was  certain  to  appear,  that  I  often 
thought  how  dangerous  and  captivating  a  girl  she  would 
be  when  she  grew  up.  I  had  again  produced  the  books, 
which  I  had  thrown  aside  with  disgust,  to  teach  her  to 
read  and  write.  Her  improvement  was  rapid,  and  would 
have  been  still  more  so  if  she  had  not  been  just  as  busy  in 
trying  to  make  me  fond  of  her  as  she  was  in  surmounting 
the  difficulties  of  her  lessons.  But  she  was  very  young ; 
and  although,  as  her  father  declared,  it  was  her  natur  to 
run  after  the  men,  there  was  every  reason  to  hope  that 
a  year  or  two  would  render  her  less  volatile,  and  add  to 
those  sterling  good  qualities  which  she  really  possessed. 
In  heart  and  feeling  she  was  a  modest  girl,  although  the 
buoyancy  of  her  spirits  often  carried  her  beyond  the  bounds 
prescribed  by  decorum,  and  often  called  forth  a  blush  upon 
her  own  animated  countenance,  when  her  good  sense, 
or  the  remarks  of  others,  reminded  her  of  her  having 
committed  herself.  It  was  impossible  to  know  Mary  and 
not  like  her,  although,  at  a  casual  meeting,  a  rigid  person 
might  go  away  with  an  impression  by  no  means  favourable. 
As  for  myself,  I  must  say,  that  the  more  I  was  in  her 
company  the  more  I  was  attached  to  her,  and  the  more  I 
respected  her. 

Old  Stapleton  came  home  in  the  evening.  He  had,  as 
usual,  been  smoking,  and  thinking  of  human  natur,  at  the 
Feathers  public-house.  I  told  him  what  had  happened, 
and  upon  the  strength  of  it  he  sent  for  an  extra  pot  of 
beer  for  Mary  and  me,  which  he  insisted  upon  our  drinking 


220  Jacob  Faithful 

between  us — a  greater  proof  of  good- will  on  his  part  could 
not  have  been  given.    Although  Captain  Turnbull  appeared 
to  have  recovered  from  the  effects  of  the  accident,  yet  it 
seemed  that  such  was  not  the  case,  as  the  morning  after  his 
arrival  he  was  taken  ill  with  shivering  and  pains  in  his 
loins,  which  ended  in  ague  and  fever,  and  he  did  not  quit 
his  bed  for  three  or  four  weeks.     I,  on  the  contrary,  felt 
no  ill  effects  ;  but  the  constitution  of  a  youth  is  better  able 
to  meet  such  violent  shocks  than  that  of  a  man  of  sixty 
years  old,  already  sapped  by  exposure  and  fatigue.     As 
the  frost  still  continued,  I  complied  with  Captain  TurnbuU's 
request  to  come  up  and  stay  with  him,  and  for  many  days, 
until  he  was  able  to  leave  his  bed  I  was  his  constant  nurse. 
The  general  theme  of  his  conversation  was  on  my  future 
prospects,  and  a  wish  that  I  would  embark  in  some  pursuit 
or  profession  more  likely  to  raise  me  in  the  world  ;  but  on 
this  head  I  was  positive,  and  also  another  point,  which  was, 
that  I  would  in  future  put  myself  under  an  obligation  to 
no  one.     I  could  not  erase  from  my  memory  the  injuries 
I  had  received,  and  my  vindictive  spirit  continually  brooded 
over  them.     I  was  resolved  to  be  independent  and  free. 
I  felt  that  in  the  company  I  was  in  I  was  with  my  equals, 
or,  if  there  were  any  superiority,  it  was  on  my  part,  arising 
from  education,  and  I  never  would  submit  to  be  again  in 
the  society  of  those  above  me,  in  which  I  was  admitted  as 
a  favour,  and  by  the  major  part  looked  down  upon,  and  at 
the  same  time  liable,  as  I  had  once  been,  to  be  turned  out 
with  contumely  on  the  first  moment  of  caprice.     Still  I 
was  very  fond  of  Captain  Turnbull.     He  had  always  been 
kind  to  me,  spoke  to  me  on  terms  of  equality,  and  had 
behaved  with  consistency,  and  my  feelings   towards  him 
since  the  accident,  had   consequently  strengthened ;   but 
we  always  feel  an  increased  regard  towards  those  to  whom 
we  have  been  of  service,  and  my  pride  was  softened  by 
the  reflection  that  whatever  might  be  Mr  TurnbuU's  good- 
will towards  me,  he  never  could,  even  if  I  would  permit 
it,  repay  me  for  the  life  which  I  had  preserved.     Towards 
him  I  felt  unbounded  regard — towards  those  who  had  ill- 


Jacob  Faithful  221 

treated  me  unlimited  hatred  ;  towards  the  world  in  general 
a  mixture  of  feeling  which  I  could  hardly  analyse ;  and,  as 
far  as  regarded  myself,  a  love  of  liberty  and  independence, 
which  nothing  would  ever  have  induced  me  to  compromise. 
As  I  did  not  wish  to  hurt  Captain  Turnbull's  feelings  by 
a  direct  refusal  to  all  his  proffers  of  service,  and  remarks 
upon  the  advantages  which  might  arise,  I  generally  made 
an  evasive  answer  ;  but  when  on  the  day  proposed  for  my 
departure  he  at  once  came  to  the  point,  offering  me  every- 
thing, and  observing  that  he  was  childless,  and  therefore 
my  acceptance  of  his  offer  would  be  injurious  to  nobody, 
when  he  took  me  by  the  hand,  and  drawing  me  near  to 
him,  passed  his  arm  round  me,  and  spoke  to  me  in  the  kind 
accents  of  a  father  almost  entreating  me  to  consent — the 
tears  of  gratitude  coursed  each  other  rapidly  down  my 
cheeks,  but  my  resolution  was  no  less  firm — although  it 
was  with  a  faltering  voice  that  I  replied,  *'  You  have  been 
very  kind  to  me,  sir — very  kind — and  I  shall  never  forget 
it ;  and  I  hope  I  shall  deserve  it — but — Mr  Drummond, 
and  Mrs  Drummond,  and  Sarah,  were  also  kind  to  me — 
very  kind  to  me — you  know  the  rest.  I  will  remain  as  I 
am,  if  you  please ;  and  if  you  wish  to  do  me  a  kindness  ;  if 
you  wish  me  to  love  you,  as  I  really  do,  let  me  be  as  I  am 
— free  and  independent.  I  beg  it  of  you  as  the  greatest 
favour  that  you  can  possibly  confer  on  me — the  only  favour 
which  I  can  accept,  or  shall  be  truly  thankful  for." 

Captain  Turnbull  was  some  minutes  before  he  could 
reply.  He  then  said — "  I  see  it  is  useless,  and  I  will  not 
tease  you  any  more ;  but,  Jacob,  do  not  let  the  fire  of 
injustice  which  you  have  received  from  your  fellow- 
creatures  prey  so  much  upon  your  mind,  or  induce  you  to 
form  the  mistaken  idea  that  the  world  is  bad.  As  you  live 
on,  you  will  find  much  good  •,  and  recollect,  that  those 
who  have  injured  you  from  the  misrepresentation  of  others, 
have  been  willing,  and  have  offered,  to  repair  their  fault. 
They  can  do  no  more,  and  I  wish  you  could  get  over  this 
vindictive  feeling.  Recollect,  we  must  forgive,  as  we  hope 
to  be  forgiven." 


222  Jacob  Faithful 

"I  do  forgive — at  least,  I  do  sometimes,"  replied  I, 
"  for  Sarah's  sake — but  I  can't  always." 

"  But  you  ought  to  forgive,  for  other  reasons,  Jacob." 

"  I  know  I  ought — but  if  I  cannot,  I  cannot." 

"  Nay,  my  boy,  I  never  heard  you  talk  so — I  was  going 
to  say — wickedly.  Do  you  not  perceive  that  you  are  now 
in  error  ?  You  will  not  abandon  a  feeling  which  your 
own  good  sense  and  religion  tell  you  to  be  wrong — you 
cling  to  it — and  yet  you  will  admit  of  no  excuse  for 
the  errors  of  others." 

"  I  feel  what  you  say — and  the  truth  of  it,  sir,"  replied 
I  ;  "  but  I  cannot  combat  the  feeling.  I  will,  therefore, 
admit  every  excuse  you  please,  for  the  faults  of  others ; 
but  at  the  same  time,  I  am  surely  not  to  be  blamed  if  I 
refuse  to  put  myself  in  a  situation  where  I  am  again  liable 
to  meet  with  mortification.  Surely  I  am  not  to  be 
censured,  if  I  prefer  to  work  for  my  bread  after  my  own 
fashion,  and  prefer  the  river  to  dry  land  ?  " 

"  No,  that  I  acknowledge ;  but  what  I  dislike  in  the 
choice  is  that  it  is  dictated  by  feelings  of  resentment." 

"  What's  done  can't  be  helped^^  replied  I,  quickly,  wishing 
to  break  off  the  conversation. 

"  Very  true,  Jacob ;  but  I  follow  that  up  with  another 
of  your  remarks,  which  is,  '  Better  luck  next  time.'  God 
bless  you,  my  boy  \  take  care  of  yourself,  and  don't  get 
under  the  ice  again  !  " 

"  For  you  I  would  to-morrow,"  replied  I,  taking  the 
proffered  hand  ;  "  but  if  I  could  only  see  that  Hodgson 
near  a  hole " 

"  You'd  not  push  him  in  ,''" 

"  Indeed  I  would,"  replied  I,  bitterly. 

"  Jacob,  you  would  not,  I  tell  you — you  think  so  now,  but 
if  you  saw  him  in  distress,  you  would  assist  him  as  you  did 
me.     I  know  you,  my  boy,  better  than  you  know  yourself." 

Whether  Captain  Turnbull  or  I  were  right  remains  to 
be  proved  in  the  sequel.  We  then  shook  hands,  and  I 
hastened  away  to  see  Mary,  whom  I  had  often  thought  of 
during  my  absence. 


Jacob  Faithful  223 

'  Who  do  you  think  has  been  here  ?  "  said  Mary,  after 
our  first  greeting. 

*'  I  cannot  guess,"  replied  L  **  Not  old  Tom  and  his 
son  ? " 

"  No ;  I  don't  think  it  was  old  Tom,  but  it  was  such 
an  old  quiz — with  such  a  nose — O  heavens  !  I  thought  I 
should  have  died  with  laughing  as  soon  as  he  went  down 
stairs.  Do  you  know,  Jacob,  that  I  made  love  to  him, 
just  to  see  how  he'd  take  it.  You  know  who  it  is 
now  ? " 

*'  O  yes  !  you  mean  the  Domine,  my  schoolmaster." 

"  Yes,  he  told  me  so  ;  and  I  talked  so  much  about  you, 
and  about  your  teaching  me  to  read  and  write,  and  how 
fond  I  was  of  learning,  and  how  I  should  like  to  be  married 
to  an  elderly  man  who  was  a  great  scholar,  who  would 
teach  me  Latin  and  Greek,  that  the  old  gentleman  became 
quite  chatty,  and  sat  for  two  hours  talking  to  me.  He 
desired  me  to  say  that  he  should  call  here  to-morrow  after- 
noon, and  I  begged  him  to  stay  the  evening,  as  you  are  to 
have  two  more  of  your  friends  here.  Now,  who  do  you 
think  are  those  ? " 

"  I  have  no  others,  except  old  Tom  Beazeley  and  his 
son." 

"  Well,  it  is  your  old  Tom  after  all,  and  a  nice  old  fellow 
he  is,  although  I  would  not  like  him  for  a  husband  ;  but  as 
for  his  son — he's  a  lad  after  my  own  heart — I'm  quite  in 
love  with  him." 

"  Your  love  will  do  you  no  harm,  Mary  ;  but,  recollect, 
what  may  be  a  joke  to  you  may  not  be  so  to  other  people. 
As  for  the  Domine  meeting  old  Beazeley  and  his  son,  I  don't 
exactly  know  how  that  will  suit,  for  I  doubt  if  he  will  like 
to  see  them." 

"  Why  not  ?  "  inquired  Mary. 

Upon  a  promise  never  to  hint  at  them,  I  briefly  stated 
the  circumstances  attending  the  worthy  man's  voyage  on 
board  of  the  lighter.  Mary  paused,  and  then  said,  "  Jacob, 
did  we  not  read  the  last  time  that  the  most  dangerous  rocks 
to  men  were  ivine  and  ivomen  ?  " 


224  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Yes,  we  did,  if  I  recollect  righto" 

"  Humph,"  said  she ;  "  the  old  gentleman  has  given 
plenty  of  lessons  in  his  time,  and  it  appears  that  he  has 
received  oneT 

"  We  may  do  so  to  the  last  day  of  our  existence,  Mary," 

"Well,  he  is  a  very  clever,  learned  man,  I've  do  doubt, 
and  looks  down  upon  all  of  us  (not  you,  Jacob)  as  silly 
people.     I'll  try  if  /  can't  give  him  a  lesson." 

"  You,  Mary,  what  can  you  teach  him  ? " 

"  Never  mind,  we  shall  see  ; "  and  Mary  turned  the  dis- 
course on  her  father.  *'  You  know,  I  suppose,  that  father 
is  gone  up  to  Mr  Turnbull's." 

"No,  I  did  not." 

"  Yes,  he  has  ;  he  was  desired  to  go  there  this  morning, 
and  hasn't  been  back  since.  Jacob,  I  hope  you  won't  be  so 
foolish  again,  for  I  don't  want  to  lose  my  master^" 

"  O,  never  fear  ;  I  shall  teach  you  all  you  want  to  know 
before  I  die,"  I  replied. 

"  Don't  be  too  sure  of  that,"  replied  Mary,  fixing  her 
large  blue  eyes  upon  me  ;  "  how  do  you  know  how  much 
I  may  wish  to  have  of  your  company  ? " 

"Well,  if  I  walk  off  in  a  hurry,  I'll  make  you  over  to 
young  Tom  Beazeley.  You're  half  in  love  with  him 
already,  you  know,"  replied  I,  laughing. 

"Well,  he  is  a  nice  fellow,"  replied  she;  "he  laughs 
more  than  you  do,  Jacob." 

"He  has  suffered  less,"  replied  I,  gloomily,  calling  to 
mind  what  had  occurred ;  "  but,  Mary,  he  is  a  fine  young 
man,  and  a  good-hearted  clever  fellow  to  boot ;  and  when 
you  do  know  him,  you  will  like  him  very  much."  As  I 
said  this,  I  heard  her  father  coming  up  stairs ;  he  came  in 
high  good  humour  with  his  interview  with  Captain  Turn- 
bull,  called  for  his  pipe  and  pot,  and  was  excessively  fluent 
upon  "  human  natur." 


Jacob  Faithful  22 j 


Chapter  XXV 

"  The  feast  of  reason  and  the  flow  of  soul " — Stapleton,  on  human  nature, 
proves  the  former ;  the  Domine,  in  his  melting  mood,  the  latter — Sail's 
shoe  particularly  noted,  and  the  true  "  reading  made  easy  "  of  a  mind  at 
ease,  by  old  Tom. 

The  afternoon  of  the  next  day  I  heard  a  well-known  voice, 
which  carolled  forth,  as  Mary  huddled  up  her  books,  and 
put  them  out  of  the  way  -,  for  at  that  time  I  was,  as  usual, 
giving  her  a  lesson  : 

"And  many  strange  sights  I've  seen, 

And  long  I've  been  a  rover, 
And  every  where  I've  been, 

But  now  the  wars  are  over. 
I've  been  across  the  line, 

Where  the  sun  will  burn  your  nose  off; 
And  I've  been  in  northern  climes. 

Where  the  frost  would  bite  your  toes  off. 
Fal  de  ral,  fal  de  ral,  fal  de  ral  de  liddy. " 

*'  Heave  a-head,  Tom,  and  let  me  stump  up  at  my 
leisure.  It's  like  warping  'gainst  wind  and  tide  with  me — 
and  I  gets  up  about  as  fast  as  lawyers  go  to  heaven." 

I  thought  when  Tom  came  up  first,  that  he  had  been 
at  unusual  trouble  in  setting  off  his  person,  and  certainly 
a  better-looking,  frank,  open,  merry  countenance  was 
seldom  to  be  seen.  In  person  he  was  about  an  inch 
taller  than  I,  athletic,  and  well  formed.  He  made  up  to 
Mary,  who,  perceiving  his  impatience,  and  either  to  check 
him  before  me,  or  else  from  her  usual  feeling  of  coquetry, 
received  him  rather  distantly,  and  went  up  to  old  Tom, 
with  whom  she  shook  hands  warmly. 

"  Whew  !  what's  in  the  wind  now,  Jacob  }  "Why,  we 
parted  the  best  friends  in  the  world,"  said  Tom,  looking 
at  Mary. 

"Sheer  off  yourself,  Tom,"  replied  I,  laughing;  "and 
you'll  see  that  she'll  come  to  again." 

**  Oh,  oh  !  so  the  wind's  in  that  quarter,  is  it  ?  "  replied 
J.F.  p 


2  26  Jacob  Faithful 

Tom.  "  With  all  my  heart — I  can  show  false  colours  as 
well  as  she  can.  But  I  say,  Jacob,  before  I  begin  my 
manoeuvres,  tell  me  if  you  wish  me  to  hoist  the  neutral 
flag — for  I  won't  interfere  with  you." 

"  Here's  my  hand  upon  it,  Tom,  that  the  coast  is  clear 
as  far  as  I'm  concerned ;  but  take  care — she's  a  clipper, 
and  not  unlikely  to  slip  through  your  fingers,  even  when 
you  have  her  under  your  lee,  within  hail." 

"Let  me  alone,  Jacob,  for  that." 

**  And  more,  Tom,  when  you're  in  possession  of  her, 
she  will  require  a  good  man  at  the  helm." 

"  Then  she's  just^  the  craft  after  my  fancy.  I  hate  your 
steady,  slow-sailing  craft,  that  will  steer  themselves, 
almost ;  give  me  one  that  requires  to  be  managed  by  a 
man  and  a  seaman." 

"If  well  manned,  she  will  do  anything,  depend  upon 
it,  Tom,  for  she's  as  sound  below  as  possible  ;  and  although 
she  is  down  to  her  bearing  on  the  puff  of  the  moment,  yet 
she'd  not  careen  further." 

"Well,  then,  Jacob,  all's  right;  and  now  you've  told 
me  what  tack  she's  on,  see  if  I  don't  shape  a  course 
to  cut  her  off." 

"Well,  Jacob,  my  good  boy,  so  you've  been  under  the 
water  again ;  I  thought  you  had  enough  of  it  when 
Fleming  gave  you  such  a  twist ;  but,  however,  this 
time  you  went  to  sarve  a  friend,  which  was  all  right. 
My  sarvice  to  you,  Mr  Stapleton,"  continued  old  Tom, 
as  Stapleton  made  his  appearance.  "  I  was  talking  to 
Jacob  about  his  last  dive." 

"  Nothing  but  human  natur,"  replied  Stapleton. 

"  Well,  now,"  replied  old  Tom,  "  I  consider  that  going 
plump  into  the  river,  when  covered  with  ice,  to  be  quite 
contrary  to  human  natur." 

"  But  not  to  save  a  friend,  father  ? " 

"  No — because  that  be  Jacob's  nature  ;  so  you  see  one 
nature  conquered  the  other,  and  that's  the  whole  long  and 
short  of  it." 

"  Well,  now,  suppose  we  sit  down  and  make  ourselves 


Jacob  Faithful  227 

comfortable,"  observed  Stapleton;  "but  here  be  some- 
body else  coming  up — who  can  it  be  ? " 

"  I  say,  old  codger,  considering  you  be  as  deaf  as  a 
post,  you  hears  pretty  well,"  said  old  Tom. 

"  Yes,  I  hear  very  well  in  the  house,  provided  people 
don't  speak  loud." 

"  Well,  that's  a  queer  sort  of  deafness ;  I  think  we  are 
all  troubled  with  the  same  complaint,"  cried  Tom,  laugh- 
ing. 

During  this  remark  the  Domine  made  his  appearance, 
*'  Salve  Domine, ^^  said  I,  upon  his  entering,  taking  my 
worthy  pedagogue  by  the  hand. 

'^  Et  tu  quoque,  Jilt  mi,  Jacohe  I  But  whom  have  we 
here  ?  the  deaf  man,  the  maiden,  and — ehu  ! — the  old 
man  called  old  Tom,  and  likewise  the  young  Tom  ; "  and 
the  Domine  looked  very  grave. 

"Nay,  sir,"  said  young  Tom,  going  up  to  the  Domine; 
"I  know  you  are  angry  with  us,  because  we  both  drank 
too  much  when  we  were  last  in  your  company ;  but  we 
promise — don't  we,  father  ? — not  to  do  so  again." 

This  judicious  reply  of  young  Tom's  put  the  Domine 
more  at  his  ease  ;  what  he  most  feared  was  raillery  and 
exposure  on  their  parts. 

"  Very  true,  old  gentleman ;  Tom  and  I  did  bowse  our 
jibs  up  a  little  too  taut  when  we  last  met— but  what  then  ? 
— there  was  the  grog,  and  there  was  nothing  to  do." 

"All  human  natur,"  observed  Stapleton. 

"  Come,  sir,  you  have  not  said  one  word  to  me,"  said 
Mary,  going  up  to  the  Domine.  "Now,  you  must  sit 
down  by  me,  and  take  care  of  me,  and  see  that  they  all 
behave  themselves  and  keep  sober." 

The  Domine  cast  a  look  at  Mary,  which  was  intended 
for  her  alone,  but  which  was  not  unperceived  by  young 
Tom  or  me.  "  We  shall  have  some  fun,  Jacob,"  said  he 
aside,  as  we  all  sat  down  to  the  table,  which  just  admitted 
six,  with  close  stowage.  The  Domine  on  one  side  of 
Mary,  Tom  on  the  other,  Stapleton  next  to  Tom,  then 
I  and  old  Tom,  who  closed  in  on  the  other  side  of  the 


22  8  Jacob  Faithful 

Domine,  putting  one  of  his  timber  toes  on  the  old  gentle- 
man's corns,  which  induced  him  to  lift  up  his  leg  in  a 
hurry,  and  draw  his  chair  still  closer  to  Mary,  to  avoid 
a  repetition  of  the  accident ;  while  old  Tom  was  axing 
pardon,  and  Stapleton  demonstrating  that  on  the  part  of 
old  Tom,  not  to  feel  with  a  wooden  leg,  and  on  the  part 
of  the  Domine,  to  feel  with  a  bad  corn  was  all  nothing 
but  "-^  human  natur^  At  last  we  were  all  seated,  and 
Mary,  who  had  provided  for  the  evening,  produced  two 
or  three  pots  of  beer,  a  bottle  of  spirits,  pipes,  and 
tobacco. 

"  Liberty  Hall — I  smokes,"  said  Stapleton,  lighting  his 
pipe,  and  falling  back  on  his  chair. 

"I'll  put  a  bit  of  clay  in  my  mouth  too,"  followed  up 
old  Tom ;  "  it  makes  one  thirsty,  and  enjoy  one's  liquor." 

"Well,  I  malts,"  said  Tom,  reaching  a  pot  of  porter, 
and  taking  a  long  pull,  till  he  was  out  of  breath.  "What 
do  you  do,  Jacob  ? " 

"I  shall  wait  a  little,  Tom." 

"  And  what  do  you  do,  sir  ? "  said  Mary  to  the  Domine, 
The  Domine  shook  his  head.  "  Nay,  but  you  must — or 
I  shall  think  you  do  not  like  my  company.  Come,  let  me 
fill  a  pipe  for  you."  Mary  filled  a  pipe,  and  handed  it 
to  the  Domine,  who  hesitated,  looked  at  her,  and  was 
overcome.     He  lighted  it  and  smoked  furiously. 

"  The  ice  is  breaking  up — we  shall  have  a  change  of 
weather — the  moon  quarters  to-morrow,"  observed  old 
Tom,  puffing  between  every  observation ;  "  and  then 
honest  men  may  earn  their  bread  again.  Bad  times  for 
you,  old  codger,  heh  !  "  continued  he,  addressing  Stapleton. 
Stapleton  nodded  an  assent  through  the  smoke,  which 
was  first  perceived  by  old  Tom.  "  Well,  he  ar'n't  deaf, 
a'ter  all ;  I  thought  he  was  only  shamming  a  bit.  I  say, 
Jacob,  this  is  the  weather  to  blow  your  fingers,  and  make 
your  eyes  bright." 

"  Rather  to  blow  a  cloud  and  make  your  eyes  water," 
replied  Tom,  taking  up  the  pot :  "  I'm  just  as  thirsty  with 
swallowing  smoke,  as  if  I  had  a  pipe  myself — at  all  events 


Jacob  Faithful  229 

I  pipe  my  eye.  Jacob,"  continued  Tom,  to  me  apart, 
"  do  look  how  the  old  gentleman  is  funking  Mary,  and 
casting  sheep's  eyes  at  her  through  the  smoke." 

"  He  appears  as  if  he  were  inclined  to  board  her  in  the 
smoke,"  repHed  I. 

"Yes,  and  she  to  make  no  fight  of  it,  but  surrender 
immediately,"  said  Tom. 

"  Don't  you  believe  it,  Tom ;  I  know  her  better ;  she 
wants  to  laugh  at  him ;  nothing  more ;  she  winked  her 
eye  at  me  just  now,  but  I  would  not  laugh,  as  I  do  not 
choose  that  the  old  gentleman  should  be  trifled  with. 
I  will  tax  her  severely  to-morrow." 

During  all  this  time  old  Tom  and  Stapleton  smoked  in 
silence  :  the  Domine  made  use  of  his  eyes  in  dumb  parlance 
to  Mary,  who  answered  him  with  her  own  bright  glances, 
and  Tom  and  I  began  to  find  it  rather  dull ;  when  at  last 
old  Tom's  pipe  was  exhausted,  and  he  laid  it  down. 
"  There,  I'll  smoke  no  more — the  worst  of  a  pipe  is 
that  one  can't  smoke  and  talk  at  the  same  time.  Mary, 
my  girl,  take  your  eyes  off  the  Domine's  nose,  and  hand 
me  that  bottle  of  stuff.  What,  glass  to  mix  it  in,  that's 
more  genteel  than  we  are  on  board,  Tom."  Tom  filled 
a  rummer  of  grog,  took  half  off  at  a  huge  sip,  and  put 
it  down  on  the  table.  "  Will  you  do  as  we  do,  sir  ? " 
said  he,  addressing  the  Domine. 

"  Nay,  friend  Dux,  nay — pr'ythee  persuade  me  not — 
avaunt ! "  and  the  Domine,  with  an  appearance  of  horror, 
turned  away  from  the  bottle  handed  towards  him  by  old 
Tom. 

"Not  drink  anything?"  said  Mary  to  the  Domine, 
looking  at  him  with  surprise  \  "  but  indeed  you  must,  or 
I  shall  think  you  despise  us,  and  do  not  think  us  fit  to 
be  in  your  company." 

"Nay,  maiden,  entreat  me  not.  Ask  anything  of  me 
but  this,"  replied  the  Domine. 

"  Ask  anything  but  this — that's  just  the  way  people 
have  of  refusing,"  replied  Mary  j  "  were  I  to  ask  anything 
else,  it  would  be  the  same  answer — *ask  anything  but 


230  Jacob  Faithful 

this.'  Now,  if  you  will  not  drink  to  please  me,  I  shall 
quarrel  with  you.  You  shall  drink  a  glass,  and  I'll  mix 
it  for  you.  The  Domine  shook  his  head.  Mary  made 
a  glass  of  grog,  and  then  put  it  to  her  lips.  "Now,  if 
you  refuse  to  drink  it,  after  I  have  tasted  it,  I'll  never 
speak  to  you  again."  So  saying,  she  handed  the  glass  to 
the  Domine. 

*'  Verily,  maiden,  I  must  needs  refuse,  for  I  did  make  a 
mental  vow." 

"  What  vow  was  that  ?  was  it  sworn  on  the  Bible  ?  " 

"  Nay,  not  on  the  sacred  book,  but  in  my  thoughts  most 
solemnly." 

"  O  !  I  make  those  vows  every  day,  and  never  keep  one 
of  them  ;  so  that  won't  do.  Now,  observe,  I  give  you 
one  more  chance.  I  shall  drink  a  little  more,  and  if  you 
do  not  immediately  put  your  lips  to  the  same  part  of  the 
tumbler,  I'll  never  drink  to  you  again."  Mary  put  the 
tumbler  again  to  her  lips,  drank  a  little,  with  her  eyes 
fixed  upon  the  Domine,  who  watched  her  with  distended 
nostrils  and  muscular  agitation  of  countenance.  With  her 
sweetest  smile,  she  handed  him  the  tumbler;  the  Domine 
half  held  out  his  hand,  withdrew  it,  put  it  down  again, 
and  by  degrees  took  the  tumbler.  Mary  conquered,  and  I 
watched  the  malice  of  her  look  as  the  liquor  trickled  down 
the  Domine's  throat.  Tom  and  I  exchanged  glances. 
The  Domine  put  down  the  tumbler,  and  then,  looking 
round,  like  a  guilty  person,  coloured  up  to  the  eyes  ;  but 
Mary,  who  perceived  that  her  victory  was  but  half  achieved, 
put  her  hand  upon  his  shoulder,  and  asked  him  to  let  her 
taste  the  grog  again.  I  also,  to  make  him  feel  more  at 
ease,  helped  myself  to  a  glass.  Tom  did  the  same,  and 
old  Tom,  with  more  regard  to  the  feelings  of  the  Domine 
than  in  his  own  bluntness  of  character  I  would  have  given 
him  credit  for,  said  in  a  quiet  tone,  **  The  old  gentleman 
is  afraid  of  grog,  because  he  seed  me  take  a  drop  too 
much,  but  that's  no  reason  why  grog  ar'n't  a  good  thing, 
and  wholesome  in  moderation.  A  glass  or  two  is  very 
well,  and   better   still  when  sweetened  by  the  lips  of  a 


\ 


i 


Jacob  Faithful  231 

pretty  girl ;  and,  even  if  the  Domine  does  not  like  it,  he's 
too  much  of  a  gentleman  not  to  give  up  his  dislikes  to 
please  a  lady.  More's  the  merit ;  for,  if  he  did  like  it,  it 
would  be  no  sacrifice,  that's  sartain.  Don't  you  think  so, 
my  old  boozer  ?  "  continued  he,  addressing  Stapleton,  who 
smoked  in  silence. 

*'  Human  natur,"  replied  Stapleton,  taking  the  pipe  out 
of  his  mouth,  and  spitting  under  the  table. 

"  Very  true,  master ;  and  so  here's  to  your  health,  Mr 
Domine,  and  may  you  never  want  a  pretty  girl  to  talk  to, 
or  a  glass  of  grog  to  drink  her  health  with." 

**  O,  but  the  Domine  don't  care  about  pretty  girls, 
father,"  replied  Tom;  "he's  too  learned  and  clever;  he 
thinks  about  nothing  but  the  moon,  and  Latin,  and  Greek, 
and  philosophy,  and  all  that." 

"  Who  can  say  what's  under  the  skin,  Tom  ?  There's 
no  knowing  what  is,  and  what  isn't — Sail's  shoe  for  that." 

"  Never  heard  of  Sail's  shoe,  father  ;  that's  new  to  me." 

"Didn't  I  ever  tell  you  that,  Tom  i' — "Well,  then,  you 
shall  have  it  now — that  is,  if  all  the  company  be  agreeable." 

"  O,  yes,"  cried  Mary  ;  "  pray  tell  us." 

"  Would  you  like  to  hear  it,  sir  ? " 

"  I  never  heard  of  Sail  Sue  in  my  life,  and  would  fain 
hear  her  history,"  replied  the  Domine  ;  "  proceed,  friend 
Dux." 

* '  Well,  then,  you  must  know  when  I  was  a-board  of 
the  Terp-sy-chore,  there  was  a  fore-topman,  of  the  name 
of  Bill  Harness,  a  good  sort  of  chap  enough,  but  rather 
soft  in  the  upper-works.  Now  we'd  been  on  the  Jamaica 
station  for  some  years,  and  had  come  home,  and  merry 
enough,  and  happy  enough  we  were  (those  that  were  left 
of  us),  and  we  were  spending  our  money  like  the  devil. 
Bill  Harness  had  a  wife,  who  was  very  fond  of  he,  and  he 
were  very  fond  of  she,  but  she  was  a  slatternly  sort  of  a 
body,  never  tidy  in  her  rigging,  all  adrift  at  all  times,  and 
what's  more,  she  never  had  a  shoe  up  at  heel,  so  she  went 
by  the  name  of  Slatternly  Sail,  and  the  first  lieutenant, 
who  was  a  'ticular  sort  of  a  chap,  never  liked  to  see  her 


232  Jacob  Faithful 

on  deck,  for  you  see  she  put  her  hair  in  paper  on  New 
Year's  day,  and  never  changed  it  or  took  it  out  till  the 
year  came  round  again.  However,  be  it  as  it  may  be,  she 
loved  Bill,  and  Bill  loved  she,  and  they  were  very  happy 
together.  A'ter  all,  it  ar'n't  whether  a  woman's  tidy  with- 
out that  make's  a  man's  happiness ;  it  depends  upon 
whether  she  be  right  within ;  that  is,  if  she  be  good- 
tempered,  and  obliging,  and  civil,  and,  commodating,  and 
so  forth.  A'ter  the  first  day  or  two,  person's  nothing — 
eyes  get  palled,  like  the  capstern  when  the  anchor's  up  to 
the  bows ;  but,  what  a  man  likes  is,  not  to  be  disturbed  by 
vagaries,  or  gusts  of  temper.  Well,  Bill  was  happy — but 
one  day  he  was  devilish  unhappy,  because  Sail  had  lost 
one  of  her  shoes,  which  wasn't  to  be  wondered  at,  con- 
sidering as  how  she  was  always  slipshod.  'Who  has 
seen  my  wife's  shoe  ? '  says  he.  '  Hang  your  wife's  shoe,' 
said  one,  '  it  warn't  worth  casting  an  eye  upon.'  Still 
he  cried  out,  '  Who  has  seen  my  wife's  shoe  ? '  'I  seed 
it,'  says  another.  '  Where  ? '  says  Bill.  *  I  seed  it  down 
at  heel,'  says  the  fellow.  But  Bill  still  hallooed  out  about 
his  wife's  shoe,  which  it  appeared  she  had  dropped  off 
her  foot  as  she  was  going  up  the  forecastle  ladder  to  take 
the  air  a  bit,  just  as  it  was  dark.  At  last.  Bill  made  so 
much  fuss  about  it  that  the  ship's  company  laughed,  and 
all  called  out  to  each  other,  '  Who  has  seen  Sail's  shoe  ? ' 
— '  Have  you  got  Sail's  shoe  ? '  and  they  passed  the  word 
fore  and  aft  the  whole  evening,  till  they  went  to  their 
hammocks.  Notwithstanding,  as  Sail's  shoe  was  not 
forthcoming,  the  next  morning  Bill  goes  on  the  quarter- 
deck, and  complains  to  the  first  lieutenant,  as  how  he 
had  lost  Sail's  shoe.  '  D — n  Sail's  shoe,'  said  he,  '  haven't 
I  enough  to  look  after  without  your  wife's  confounded 
shoes,  which  can't  be  worth  twopence  ? '  Well,  Bill 
argues  that  his  wife  has  only  one  shoe  left,  and  that 
wo'n't  keep  two  feet  dry,  and  begs  the  first  lieutenant 
to  order  a  search  for  it ;  but  the  first  lieutenant  turns 
away,  and  tells  him  to  go  to  the  devil,  and  all  the  men 
grin  at  Bill's  making  such  a  fuss  about  nothing.     So  Bill 


Jacob  Faithful  233 

at  last  goes  up  to  the  first  lieutenant,  and  whispers  some- 
thing, and  the  first  lieutenant  booms  him  off  with  his 
speaking  trumpet,  as  if  he  was  making  too  free,  in 
whispering  to  his  commanding  officer,  and  then  sends 
for  the  master-at-arms.  '  Collier,'  says  he,  *  this  man  has 
lost  his  wife's  shoe,  let  a  search  be  made  for  it  immediately 
— take  all  the  ship's  boys,  and  look  everywhere  for  it ; 
if  you  find  it  bring  it  up  to  me.'  So  away  goes  the 
master-at-arms  with  his  cane,  and  collects  all  the  boys  to 
look  for  Sail's  shoe — and  they  go  peeping  about  the  main- 
deck,  under  the  guns,  and  under  the  hen-coops,  and  in  the 
sheep-pen,  and  everywhere ;  now  and  then  getting  a  smart 
slap  with  the  cane  behind,  upon  the  taut  parts  of  their 
trousers,  to  make  them  look  sharp,  until  they  all  wished 
Sail's  shoe  at  Old  Nick  and  her  to,  and  Bill  in  the  bargain. 
At  last  one  of  the  boys  picks  it  out  of  the  manger,  where 
it  had  lain  all  the  night,  poked  up  and  down  by  the  noses 
of  the  pigs,  who  didn't  think  it  eatable,  although  it  might 
have  smelt  human-like ;  the  fact  was,  it  was  the  same 
boy  who  had  picked  up  Sail's  shoe  when  she  dropped  it, 
and  had  shied  it  forward.  It  sartainly  did  not  seem  to 
be  worth  all  the  trouble,  but  howsomever  it  was  taken 
aft  by  the  master-at-arms,  and  laid  on  the  capstern  head. 
Then  Bill  steps  out,  and  takes  the  shoe  before  the  first 
lieutenant,  and  cuts  it  open,  and  from  between  the  lining 
pulls  out  four  ten-pound  notes,  which  Sail  had  sewn  up 
there  by  way  of  security ;  and  the  first  lieutenant  tells 
Bill  he  was  a  great  fool  to  trust  his  money  in  the  shoe 
of  a  woman  who  always  went  slipshod,  and  tells  him  to 
go  about  his  business,  and  stow  his  money  away  in  a 
safer  place  next  time.  A'ter,  if  any  thing  was  better 
than  it  looked  to  be,  the  ship's  company  used  always  to 
say  it  was  like  Sail's  shoe.     There  you  have  it  all." 

"  Well,"  says  Stapleton,  taking  the  pipe  out  of  his 
mouth,  **  I  know  a  fact,  much  of  a  muchness  with  that, 
which  happened  to  me  when  I  was  below  the  river,  tend- 
ing a  ship  at  Sheerness — for  at  one  time,  d'ye  see,  I  used 
to  ply  there.     She  was  an  old  fifty-gun  ship,  called  the 


234  Jacob  Faithful 

Adamant,  if  I  recollect  right.  One  day,  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, who,  like  yourn,  was  a  mighty  particular  sort  of 
chap,  was  going  round  the  main-deck,  and  he  sees  an  old 
pair  of  canvas  trousers  stowed  in  under  the  trunnion  of 
one  of  the  guns.  So  says  he,  '  Whose  be  these  ? '  Now, 
no  man  would  answer,  because  they  knowed  very  well 
that  it  would  be  as  good  as  a  fortnight  in  the  black  list. 
With  that  the  first  lieutenant  bundles  them  out  of  the 
port,  and  away  they  floats  astern  with  the  tide.  It  was 
about  half  an  hour  after  that,  that  I  comes  off  with  the 
milk  for  the  wardroom  mess,  and  a  man  named  Will 
Heaviside  says  to  me,  '  Stapleton,'  says  he,  '  the  first 
lieutenant  has  thrown  my  canvas  trousers  overboard,  and 

be  d d  to  him  ;  now  I  must  have  them  back.'     '  But 

where  be  they  ? '  says  I :  '  I  suppose  down  at  the  bottom 
by  this  time,  and  the  flat-fish  dubbing  their  noses  into 
them.'  *  No,  no,'  says  he,  *  they  wo'n't  never  sink,  but 
float  till  eternity  5  they  be  gone  down  with  the  tide,  and 
they  will  come  back  again :  only  you  keep  a  sharp  look 
out  for  them,  and  I'll  give  you  five  shillings,  if  you  bring 
them.'  Well,  I  seed  little  chance  of  ever  seeing  them 
again,  or  of  my  seeing  five  shillings,  but  as  it  so  happened 
next  tide,  the  very  'denticle  pair  of  trousers  comes  up 
staring  me  in  the  face.  I  pulls  them  in,  and  takes  them 
to  Will  Heaviside,  who  appears  to  be  mightily  pleased, 
and  gives  me  the  money.  '  I  wouldn't  have  lost  them 
for  ten,  no,  not  for  twenty  pounds,'  says  he.  *  At  all 
events  you've  paid  me  more  than  they  are  worth,'  says  I. 
*  Have  I  ? '  says  he  ;  '  stop  a  bit ; '  and  he  outs  with  his 
knife,  and  rips  open  the  waistband,  and  pulls  out  a  piece 
of  linen,  and  out  of  the  piece  of  linen  he  pulls  out  a  child's 
caul.  '  There,'  says  he,  '  now  you  knows  why  the  trousers 
wouldn't  sink,  and  I'll  leave  you  to  judge  whether  they 
ar'n't  worth  five  shillings.'     That's  my  story." 

*'  Well,  I  can't  understand  how  it  is,  that  a  caul  should 
keep  people  up,"  observed  old  Tom, 

**  At  all  events,  a  call  makes  people  come  up  fast  enough 
on  board  a  man-of-war,  father." 


Jacob  Faithful  235 

"  That's  true  enough,  but  I'm  talking  of  a  child's  caul, 
not  of  a  boatswain's,  Tom." 

"  I'll  just  tell  you  how  it  is,"  replied  Stapleton,  who  had 
recommenced  smoking  ;  "  it's  human  natur^ 

"  What  is  your  opinion,  sir  ? "  said  Mary  to  the 
Domine. 

"  Maiden,"  replied  the  Domine,  taking  his  pipe  out 
of  his  mouth,  "  I  opine  that  it's  a  vulgar  error.  Sir 
Thomas  Brown,  I  think  it  is,  hath  the  same  idea  j  many 
and  strange  were  the  superstitions  which  have  been  handed 
down  by  our  less  enlightened  ancestors — all  of  which  mists 
have  been  cleared  away  by  the  powerful  rays  of  truth." 

"  Well,  but  master,  if  a  vulgar  error  saves  a  man  from 
Davy  Jones's  locker,  ar'n't  it  just  as  well  to  sew  it  up  in 
the  waistband  of  your  trousers  .''  " 

"  Granted,  good  Dux  -,  if  it  would  save  a  man  ;  but 
how  is  it  possible  ?  it  is  contrary  to  the  first  elements  of 
science." 

"  What  matter  does  that  make,  provided  it  holds  a  man 
up  ? " 

"  Friend  Dux,  thou  art  obtuse." 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  am,  as  I  don't  know  what  that  is." 

"  But,  father,  don't  you  recollect,"  interrupted  Tom, 
"  what  the  parson  said  last  Sunday,  that  faith  saved  men  ? 
Now,  Master  Domine,  may  it  not  be  the  faith  that  a  man 
has  in  the  caul  which  may  save  him  ?  " 

"  Young  Tom,  thou  art  astute." 

"  Well,  perhaps  I  am,  as  father  said,  for  I  don't  know 
what  that  is.  You  knock  us  all  down  with  your 
dictionary." 

"  Well,  I  do  love  to  hear  people  make  use  of  such  hard 
words,"  said  Mary,  looking  at  the  Domine.  "  How  very 
clever  you  must  be,  sir !  I  wonder  whether  I  shall  ever 
understand  them  ? " 

"  Nay,  if  thou  wilt,  I  will  initiate — sweet  maiden,  wilt 
steal  an  hour  or  so  to  impregnate  thy  mind  with  the  seeds 
of  learning,  which  in  so  fair  a  soil  must  needs  bring  forth 
good  fruit  ? " 


236  Jacob  Faithful 

"  That's  a  fine  word  that  impregnate — will  you  give  us 
the  English  of  it,  sir  ? "  said  young  Tom  to  the  Domine  ? 

"It  is  English,  Tom,  only  the  old  gentleman  razeed  it  a 
little.  The  third  ship  in  the  lee  line  of  the  Channel  Fleet 
was  a  eighty,  called  the  Impregnable,  but  the  old  gentleman 
knows  more  about  books  than  sea-matters." 

"  A  marvellous  misconception,"  quoth  the  Domine. 

**  There's  another,"  cried  Tom,  laughing ;  "  that  must 
be  a  three-decker.  Come,  father,  here's  the  bottle,  you 
must  take  another  glass  to  wash  that  down." 

"  Pray,  what  was  the  meaning  of  that  last  long  word, 
sir,"  said  Mary,  taking  the  Domine  by  the  arm,  "  mis — 
something." 

"  The  word,"  replied  the  Domine,  "  is  a  compound  from 
conception,  borrowed  from  the  Latin  tongue,  implying  con- 
ceiving ;  and  the  mis  prefixed,  which  negatives  or  reverses 
the  meaning  ;  misconception  therefore  implies  not  to 
conceive.  I  can  make  you  acquainted  with  many  others  of 
a  similar  tendency  as  mfx-conception  ;  videlicet,  mu-appre- 
hension,  W2;j--understanding,  »zix-contriving,  wix-applying, 
mis — " 

"  Dear  me,  what  a  many  misses,'"  cried  Mary,  "  and  do 
you  know  them  all .''  " 

"  Indeed,  do  I,"  replied  the  Domine,  "  and  many,  many 
more  are  treasured  in  my  memory,  quod  nunc  describere 
longum  est" 

"  Well,  I'd  no  idea  that  the  old  gentleman  was  given  to 
running  after  the  girls  in  that  way,"  said  old  Tom  to 
Stapleton. 

"  Human  natur,"  replied  the  other. 

"  No  more  did  I,"  continued  Mary  ;  "  I  shall  have  nothing 
to  say  to  him  ; "  and  she  drew  off  her  chair  a  few  inches 
from  that  of  the  Domine. 

"  Maiden,"  quoth  the  Domine,  "  thou  art  under  a  mis- 
take." 

"  Another  miss,  I  declare,"  cried  Tom,  laughing. 

"  What  an  old  Turk !  "  continued  Mary,  getting  further 
off. 


Jacob  Faithful  237 

"  Nay,  then,  I  will  not  reply,"  said  the  Domine, 
indignantly,  putting  down  his  pipe,  leaning  back  on 
his  chair,  and  pulling  out  his  great  red  handkerchief, 
which  he  applied  to  his  nose,  and  produced  a  sound  that 
made  the  windows  of  the  little  parlour  vibrate  for  some 
seconds. 

*'  I  say,  master  Tom,  don't  you  make  too  free  with  your 
betters,"  said  old  Tom,  when  he  perceived  the  Domine 
affronted. 

"  Nay,"  replied  the  Domine,  '*  there's  an  old  adage 
which  saith,  *  As  the  old  cock  crows,  so  doth  the  young.' 
Wherefore  didst  thou  set  him  the  example  ?  " 

"Very  true,  old  gentleman,  and  I  axes  your  pardon  and 
here's  my  hand  upon  it." 

"  And  so  do  I,  sir,  and  here's  my  hand  upon  it,"  said 
young  Tom,  extending  his  on  the  Domine's  other  side. 

*'  Friend  Dux,  and  thou  young  Tom,  I  do  willingly 
accept  thy  proffered  reconciliation ;  knowing,  as  I  well  do, 
that  there  may  be  much  mischief  in  thy  composition,  but 
naught  of  malice."  The  Domine  extended  his  hands,  and 
shook  both  those  offered  to  him  warmly. 

"There,"  said  old  Tom,  "now  my  mind's  at  ease,  as 
old  Pigtown  said." 

"  I  know  not  the  author  whom  thou  quotest  from,  good 
Dux." 

"  Author  ! — I  never  said  he  was  an  author ;  he  was 
only  captain  of  a  schooner,  trading  between  the  islands, 
that  I  sailed  with  a  few  weeks  in  the  West  Indies." 

"Perhaps,  then,  you  will  relate  to  the  company  present, 
the  circumstances  which  took  place  to  put  old  Pegtop's — 
(I  may  not  be  correct  in  the  name)  but  whoever  it  may 
be " 

"  Pigtown,  master." 

"  Well,  then — that  put  old  Pigtown's  mind  at  ease — 
for  I  am  marvellously  amused  with  thy  narrations,  which 
do  pass  away  the  time  most  agreeably,  good  Dux." 

"  With  all  my  heart,  old  gentleman;  but  first  let  us  fill 
up  our  tumblers.     I  don't  know  how  it  is,  but  it  does 


238  Jacob  Faithful 

appear  to  me  that  grog  drinks  better  out  of  a  glass  than 
out  of  metal,  and  if  it  wasn't  that  Tom  is  so  careless — 
and  the  dog  has  no  respect  for  crockery  any  more 
than  persons,  I  would  have  one  or  two  on  board  for 
particular  service ;  but  I'll  think  about  that,  and  hear  what 
the  old  woman  has  to  say  on  the  subject.  Now  to  my  yarn. 
D'ye  see,  old  Pigtown  commanded  a  little  schooner,  which 
plied  between  the  isles,  and  he  had  been  in  her  for  a 
matter  of  forty  years,  and  was  as  well  known  as  Port 
Royal  Tom." 

"  Who  might  Port  Royal  Tom  be  ? "  inquired  the 
Domine  •,  *'  a  relation  of  yours  ?  " 

"  I  hope  not,  master,  for  I  wanted  none  of  his  acquaint- 
ance, he  was  a  shark  about  twenty  feet  long,  who  rode 
guard  in  the  harbour,  to  prevent  the  men-of-war's  men 
from  deserting,  and  was  pensioned  by  government." 

"  Pensioned  by  government !  nay,  but  that  soundeth 
strangely.  I  have  heard  that  pensions  have  been  most 
lavishly  bestowed,  but  not  that  it  extended  so  far.  Truly 
it  must  have  been  a  sinecure^ 

"  I  don't  know  what  that  last  may  be,"  replied  old 
Tom  ;  "  but  I  heard  our  boatswain,  in  the  Minerve,  who 
talked  politics  a  bit,  say,  '  as  how  half  the  pensions  were 

held  by  a  pack  of  d d  sharks  ; '  but  in  this  here  shark's 

case,  it  wasn't  in  money,  master  ;  but  he'd  regular  rations 
of  bullock's  liver  to  persuade  him  to  remain  in  the 
harbour,  and  no  one  dare  swim  on  shore  when  he  was 
cruising  round  and  round  the  ships.  Well,  old  Pigtown, 
with  his  white  trowsers  and  straw  hat,  red  nose  and  big 
belly,  was  as  well  known  as  could  be,  and  was  a  capital 
old  fellow  for  remembering  and  executing  commissions, 
provided  you  gave  him  the  money  first ;  if  not,  he  always 
took  care  to  forget  them.  Old  Pigtown  had  a  son,  a  little 
dark  or  so,  which  proved  that  his  mother  wasn't  quite  as 
fair  as  a  lily,  and  this  son  was  employed  in  a  drogher,  that 
is,  a  small  craft  which  goes  round  to  the  bays  of  the  island, 
and  takes  off  the  sugars  to  the  West  India  traders.  One 
fine  day  the  drogher  was  driven  out  to  sea,  and  never 


Jacob  Faithful  239 

heard  of  a'terwards.  Now,  old  Pigtown  was  very  anxious 
about  what  had  come  of  his  son,  and  day  after  day 
expected  he  would  come  back  again  -,  but  he  never  did, 
for  very  good  reasons,  as  you  shall  hear  by-and-bye ;  and 
every  one  knowing  old  Pigtown,  and  he  knowing  every- 
body, it  was  at  least  fifty  times  a  day  that  the  question 
was  put  to  him,  '  "Well,  Pigtown,  have  you  heard  anything 
of  your  son  ? '  And  fifty  times  a  day  he  would  reply, 
*  No  J  and  my  mind's  but  ill  at  ease^  Well,  it  was  two  or 
three  months  afterwards,  that  when  I  was  in  the  schooner 
with  him,  as  we  lay  becalmed  between  the  islands,  with 
the  sun  frizzing  our  wigs,  and  the  planks  so  hot  that  you 
couldn't  walk  without  your  shoes,  that  we  hooked  a  large 
shark  which  came  bowling  under  our  counter.  We  got 
him  on  board  and  cut  him  up.  When  we  opened  his 
inside,  what  should  I  see  but  something  shining.  I  took 
it  out,  and  sure  enough  it  was  a  silver  watch.  So  I  hands 
it  to  old  Pigtown.  He  looks  at  it  very  'tentively,  opens 
the  outside  case,  reads  the  maker's  name,  and  then  shuts  it 
up  again.  *  This  here  watch,'  says  he,  '  belonged  to  my 
son  Jack.  I  bought  it  of  a  chap  in  a  South  Whaler  for 
three  dollars  and  a  roll  of  pigtail,  and  a  very  good  watch 
it  was,  though  I  perceive  it  to  be  stopped  now.  Now, 
d'ye  see,  it's  all  clear — the  drogher  must  have  gone  down 
in  a  squall — the  shark  must  have  picked  up  my  son  Jack, 
and  must  have  disgested  his  body,  but  has  not  been  able  to 
disgest  his  watch.  Now  I  knows  what's  become  of  him,  and 
so — my  minds  at  easeP 

"  Well,"  observed  old  Stapleton,  "  I  agrees  with  old 
Poptown,  or  whatever  his  name  might  be,  that  it  were 
better  to  know  the  worst  at  once,  than  to  be  kept  on  the 
worry  all  your  days.  I  consider  it's  nothing  but  human 
natur.  Why,  if  one  has  a  bad  tooth,  which  is  the  best 
plan,  to  have  it  out  with  one  good  wrench  at  once,  or  to 
be  tormented  night  and  day  the  whole  year  round  .'' " 

**  Thou  speakest  wisely,  friend  Stapleton,  and  like  a 
man  of  resolve, — the  anticipation  is  often,  if  not  always, 
more  painful  than  the  reality.     Thou  knowest,  Jacob,  how 


240  Jacob  Faithful 

often  I  have  allowed  a  boy  to  remain  unbuttoned  in  the 
centre  of  the  room  for  an  hour  previous  to  the  application 
of  the  birch — and  it  was  with  the  consideration  that  the 
impression  would  be  greater  upon  his  mind  than  even  upon 
his  nether  parts.  Of  all  the  feelings  in  the  human  breast, 
that  of  suspense  is " 

"  Worse  than  hanging,''''  interrupted  young  Tom. 

"  Even  so,  boy,  \cluck,  c/uck'],  an  apt  comparison,  seeing 
that  in  suspense  you  are  hanging,  as  it  were,  in  the  very 
region  of  doubt,  without  being  able  to  obtain  a  footing 
even  upon  conjecture.  Nay,  we  may  further  add  another 
simile,  although  not  so  well  borne  out,  which  is,  that  the 
agony  of  suspense  doth  stop  the  breath  of  a  man  for  the 
time,  as  hanging  doth  stop  it  altogether,  so  that  it  may  be 
truly  said,  that  suspense  is  put  an  end  to  by  suspending." 
\C/uck,  cluck.^ 

"  And  now  that  you've  got  rid  of  all  that,  master, 
suppose  you  fill  up  your  pipe,"  observed  old  Tom. 

"  And  I  will  fill  up  your  tumbler,  sir,"  said  Mary ;  **  for 
you  must  be  dry  with  talking  such  hard  words." 

The  Domine  this  time  made  no  objection,  and  again 
enveloped  Mary  and  himself  in  a  cloud  of  smoke,  through 
which  his  nose  loomed  like  an  Indiaman  in  a  Channel 
fog. 


Chapter  XXVI 

The  Domine's  bosom  grows  too  warm  ;  so  the  party  and  the  frost  break 
up — I  go  with  the  stream  and  against  it ;  make  money  both  ways — 
Coolness  between  Mary  and  me — No  chance  of  a  Thames'  edition  of 
Abelard  and  Eloise — Love,  learning,  and  Latin  all  lost  in  a  fit  of  the 
sulks. 

"  I  SAY,  master  Stapleton,  suppose  we  were  to  knock  out 
half  a  port,"  observed  old  Tom,  after  a  silence  of  two 
minutes  ;  "  for  the  old  gentleman  blows  a  devil  of  a  cloud  : 
that  is,  if  no  one  has  an  objection."  Stapleton  gave  a  nod 
of  assent,  and  I  rose  and  put  the  upper  window  down  a 


Jacob  Faithful  241 

few  inches.  "  Ay,  that's  right,  Jacob  ;  now  we  shall  see 
what  Miss  Mary  and  he  are  about.  "  You've  been  enjoy- 
ing the  lady  all  to  yourself,  master,"  continued  Tom, 
addressing  the  Domine. 

"Verily  and  truly,"  replied  the  Domine,  "even  as  a 
second  Jupiter." 

"  Never  heard  of  him." 

**  I  presume  not  j  still,  Jacob  will  tell  thee  that  the 
history  is  to  be  found  in  Ovid's  Metamorphosis." 

*'  Never  heard  of  the  country,  master." 

"  Nay,  friend  Dux,  it  is  a  book,  not  a  country,  in  which 
thou  may'st  read  how  Jupiter  at  first  descended  unto 
Semele  in  a  cloud." 

"  And  pray,  where  did  he  come  from,  master  ?  " 

"  He  came  from  heaven." 

"The  devil  he  did.  Well,  if  ever  I  gets  there,  I  mean 
to  stay." 

"It  was  love,  all  powerful  love,  which  induced  him, 
maiden,"  replied  the  Domine,  turning,  with  a  smiling  eye, 
to  Mary. 

"  'Bove  my  comprehension  altogether,"  replied  old 
Tom. 

"  Human  natur,"  muttered  Stapleton,  with  the  pipe  still 
between  his  lips. 

"Not  the  first  vessels  that  have  run  foul  in  a  fog," 
observed  young  Tom. 

"  No,  boy ;  but  generally  there  ar'n't  much  love 
between  them  at  those  times.  But,  come,  now  that  we 
can  breathe  again,  suppose  I  give  you  a  song.  What  shall 
it  be,  young  woman,  a  sea  ditty,  or  something  spooney  ?  " 

"  O  !  something  about  love,  if  you've  no  objection,  sir," 
said  Mary,  appealing  to  the  Domine. 

"  Nay,  it  pleaseth  me,  maiden,  and  I  am  of  thy  mind. 
Friend  Dux,  let  it  be  Anacreontic." 

"  What  the  devil's  that  ?  "  cried  old  Tom,  lifting  up  his 
eyes  and  taking  the  pipe  out  of  his  mouth. 

"  Nothing  of  your  own,  father,  that's  clear ;  but  some- 
thing to  borrow,  for  it's  to  be  on  tick"  replied  Tom. 
J.F.  Q 


242  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Nay,  boy,  I  would  have  been  understood  that  the  song 
should  refer  to  woman  or  wine." 

"  Both  of  which  are  to  his  fancy,"  observed  young  Tom 
to  me,  aside. 

"  Human  natur^''  quaintly  observed  Stapleton. 

"Well,  then,  you  shall  have  your  wish.  I'll  give  you 
one  that  might  be  warbled  in  a  lady's  chamber,  without 
stirring  the  silk  curtains  : — 

"  O  !  the  days  are  gone  when  beauty  bright 

My  heart's  chain  wove, 
When  my  dream  of  life,  from  morn  till  night 

Was  Love — still  Love, 

New  hope  may  bloom, 

And  days  may  come, 

Of  milder,  calmer  beam  ; 
But  there's  nothing  half  so  sv^eet  in  life 

As  Love's  young  dream  ; 
O !  there's  nothing  half  so  sweet  in  life, 

As  Love's  young  dream." 

The  melody  of  the  song,  added  to  the  spirits  he  had 
drunk,  and  Mary's  eyes  beaming  on  him,  had  a  great  effect 
upon  the  Domine.  As  old  Tom  warbled  out,  so  did  the 
pedagogue  gradually  approach  the  chair  of  Mary ;  and  as 
gradually  entwine  her  waist  with  his  own  arm,  his  eyes 
twinkling  brightly  on  her.  Old  Tom,  who  perceived  it, 
had  given  me  and  Tom  a  wink,  as  he  repeated  the  two  last 
lines  ;  and  when  we  saw  what  was  going  on,  we  burst  into 
an  uncontrollable  fit  of  laughter.  "  Boys  !  boys  !  "  said  the 
Domine,  starting  up,  "  thou  hast  awakened  me,  by  thy 
boisterous  mirth,  from  a  sweet  musing  created  by  the  har- 
mony of  friend  Dux's  voice.  Neither  do  I  discover  the 
source  of  thy  cachinnation,  seeing  that  the  song  is  amatory 
and  not  comic.  Still  it  may  not  be  supposed,  at  thy  early 
age,  that  thou  canst  be  affected  with  what  thou  art  too 
young  to  feel.  Pr'ythee  continue,  friend  Dux — and,  boys, 
restrain  thy  mirth." 

"  Though  the  bard  to  purer  fame  may  soar 
When  wild  youth's  past : 
Though  he  [find]  the  wise,  who  frowned  before, 
To  smile  at  last. 


Jacob  Faithful  243 

He'il  never  meet 

A  joy  so  sweet 

In  all  his  noon  of  fame, 
As  when  he  sung  to  woman's  ear, 

The  soul-felt  flame ; 
And  at  every  close,  she  blush'd  to  hear 

The  once-lov'd  name." 

At  the  commencement  of  this  verse,  the  Domine  ap- 
peared to  be  on  his  guard  j  but  gradually  moved  by  the 
power  of  song,  he  dropped  his  elbow  on  the  table,  and  his 
pipe  underneath  it ;  his  forehead  sank  into  his  broad  palm, 
and  he  remained  motionless.  The  verse  ended,  and  the 
Domine  forgetting  all  around  him,  softly  ejaculated,  with- 
out looking  up,  "  Eheu  !  Mary." 

"  Did  you  speak  to  me,  sir  ? "  said  Mary,  who  perceived 
us  tittering,  addressing  the  Domine  with  a  half-serious,  half- 
mocking  air. 

"  Speak,  maiden  ?  nay,  I  spoke  not ;  yet  thou  mayest 
give  me  my  pipe,  which  apparently  hath  been  abducted 
while  I  was  listening  to  the  song." 

"  Abducted  !  that's  a  new  word;  but  it  means  smashed 
into  twenty  pieces,  I  suppose,"  observed  young  Tom. 
"  At  all  events,  your  pipe  is,  for  you  let  it  fall  between 
your  legs." 

"  Never  mind,"  said  Mary,  rising  from  her  chair,  and 
going  to  the  cupboard;  "here's  another,  sir." 

"  Well,  master,  am  I  to  finish,  or  have  you  had  enough 
of  it?" 

"Proceed,  friend  Dux,  proceed;  and  believe  that  I  am 
all  attention." 

"  O  that  hallowed  form  is  ne'er  forgot 

Which  first  love  trac'd. 
Still  it  lingering  haunts  the  greenest  spot 

On  memory's  waste. 

'Twas  odour  fled 

As  soon  as  shed, 
'Tv,?as  memory's  winged  dream. 
'Twas  a  light  that  ne'er  can  shine  again 

On  life's  dull  stream  ; 
O  1  'twas  a  light  that  ne'er  can  shine  again 

On  life's  dull  stream." 


244  Jacob  Faithful 

"Nay,"  said  the  Domine,  again  abstracted,  "the 
metaphor  is  not  just.  '  Lifes  dull  stream.'  '  Lethe  tacitus 
amnis^  as  Lucan  hath  it ;  but  the  stream  of  life  flows — 
ay,  flows  rapidly — even  in  my  veins.  Doth  not  the  heart 
throb  and  beat — yea,  strongly — peradventure  too  forcibly 
against  my  better  judgment  ?  '  Confiteor  miser e  molle  cor 
esse  mih'i^  as  Ovid  saith.  Yet  must  it  not  prevail  ?  Shall 
one    girl    be    victorious    over    seventy    boys  ?      Shall   I, 

Domine   Dobbs,    desert   my  post? Again   succumb 

to  I  will  even  depart,  that  I  may  be  at  my  desk  at 

matutinal  hours." 

"  You  don't  mean  to  leave  us,  sir  ? "  said  Mary,  taking 
the  Domine's  arm. 

"  Even  so,  fair  maiden,  for  it  waxeth  late,  and  I  have 
my  duties  to  perform,"  said  the  Domine,  rising  from  his 
chair. 

"  Then  you  will  promise  to  come  again." 

"Peradventure  I  may." 

"  If  you  do  not  promise  me  that  you  will,  I  will  not  let 
you  go  now." 

"Verily,  maiden " 

"Promise,"  interrupted  Mary. 

"Truly,  maiden " 

"Promise,"  cried  Mary. 

"  In  good  sooth,  maiden " 

"Promise,"  reiterated  Mary,  pulling  the  Domine  to- 
wards her  chair. 

"Nay,  then,  I  do  promise,  since  thou  wilt  have  it  so," 
replied  the  Domine. 

"  And  when  will  you  come  ? " 

"  I  will  not  tarry,"  replied  the  Domine  :  "  and  now  good- 
night to  all." 

The  Domine  shook  hands  with  us,  and  Mary  lighted 
him  down  stairs.  I  was  much  pleased  with  the  resolu- 
tion and  sense  of  his  danger  thus  shown  by  my  worthy 
preceptor,  and  hoped  that  he  would  have  avoided  Mary 
in  future,  who  evidently  wished  to  make  a  conquest  of 
him  for  her  own  amusement  and  love  of  admiration ;  but 


Jacob  Faithful  2,45 

still  I  felt  that  the  promise  exacted  would  be  fulfilled, 
and  I  was  afraid  that  a  second  meeting,  and  that  perhaps 
not  before  witnesses,  would  prove  mischievous.  I  made 
up  my  mind  to  speak  to  Mary  on  the  subject  as  soon  as 
I  had  an  opportunity,  and  insist  upon  her  not  making  a 
fool  of  the  worthy  old  man.  Mary  remained  below  a 
much  longer  time  than  was  necessary,  and  when  she 
re-appeared  and  looked  at  me,  as  if  for  a  smile  of  approval, 
I  turned  from  her  with  a  contemptuous  air.  She  sat  down 
and  looked  confused.  Tom  was  also  silent,  and  paid  her 
no  attention.  A  quarter  of  an  hour  passed,  when  he 
proposed  to  his  father  that  they  should  be  off,  and  the 
party  broke  up.  Leaving  Mary  silent  and  thoughtful, 
and  old  Stapleton  finishing  his  pipe,  I  took  my  candle 
and  went  to  bed. 

The  next  day  the  moon  changed,  the  weather  changed, 
and  a  rapid  thaw  took  place.  "  It's  an  ill  wind  that  blows 
nobody  good,"  observed  old  Stapleton ;  "  we  watermen 
will  have  the  river  to  ourselves  again,  and  the  hucksters 
must  carry  their  gingerbread-nuts  to  another  market." 
It  was,  however,  three  or  four  days  before  the  river  was 
clear  of  the  ice,  so  as  to  permit  the  navigation  to  proceed  ; 
and  during  that  time,  I  may  as  well  observe,  that  there 
was  dissension  between  Mary  and  me.  I  showed  her 
that  I  resented  her  conduct,  and  at  first  she  tried  to  pacify 
me ;  but  finding  that  I  held  out  longer  than  she  expected, 
she  turned  round  and  was  affronted  in  return.  Short 
words  and  no  lessons  were  the  order  of  the  day  ;  and, 
as  each  party  appeared  determined  to  hold  out,  there  was 
little  prospect  of  a  reconciliation.  In  this  she  was  the 
greatest  sufferer,  as  I  quitted  the  house  after  breakfast, 
and  did  not  return  until  dinner  time.  At  first  old  Stapleton 
plied  very  regularly,  and  took  all  the  fares ;  but  about  a 
fortnight  after  we  had  worked  together,  he  used  to  leave 
me  to  look  after  employment,  and  remain  at  the  public- 
house.  The  weather  was  now  fine,  and  after  the  severe 
frost  it  changed  so  rapidly  that  most  of  the  trees  were  in 
leaf,  and  the  horse-chestnuts  in  full  blossom.     The  wherry 


246  Jacob  Faithful 

was  in  constant  demand,  and  every  evening  I  handed  from 
four  to  six  shillings  over  to  old  Stapleton.  I  vi^as  delighted 
with  my  life,  and  should  have  been  perfectly  happy  if  it 
had  not  been  for  my  quarrel  with  Mary  still  continuing, 
she  as  resolutely  refraining  from  making  advances  as  I. 
How  much  may  life  be  embittered  by  dissension  with  those 
you  live  with,  even  where  there  is  no  very  warm  attach- 
ment ;  the  constant  grating  together  worries  and  annoys, 
and  although  you  may  despise  the  atoms,  the  aggregate 
becomes  insupportable.  I  had  no  pleasure  in  the  house  ; 
and  the  evenings,  which  formerly  passed  so  agreeably, 
were  now  a  source  of  vexation,  from  being  forced  to  sit 
in  company  with  one  with  whom  I  was  not  on  good 
terms.  Old  Stapleton  was  seldom  at  home  till  late,  and 
this  made  it  still  worse.  I  was  communing  with  myself 
one  night,  as  I  had  my  eyes  fixed  on  my  book,  whether  I 
should  not  make  the  first  advances,  when  Mary,  who  had 
been  quietly  at  work,  broke  the  silence  by  asking  me  what 
I  was  reading.     I  replied  in  a  quiet,  grave  tone. 

**  Jacob,"  said  she  in  continuation,  "  I  think  you  have 
used  me  very  ill  to  humble  me  in  this  manner.  It  was 
your  business  to  make  it  up  first." 

"  I  am  not  aware  that  I  have  been  in  the  wrong,"  replied  L 

"  I  do  not  say  that  you  have ;  but  what  matter  does 
that  make .''     You  ought  to  give  way  to  a  woman." 

"Why  so?" 

*'  Why  so  !  don't  the  whole  world  do  so  ?  Do  you  not 
offer  everything  first  to  a  woman  ?     Is  it  not  her  right  ?  '* 

"  Not  when  she  is  in  the  wrong,  Mary." 

**  Yes,  when  she  is  in  the  wrong,  Jacob  5  there's  no 
merit  in  doing  it  when  she's  in  the  right." 

"  I  think  otherwise ;  at  all  events,  it  depends  on  how 
much  she  has  been  in  the  wrong,  and  I  consider  you  have 
shown  a  bad  heart,  Mary." 

"  A  bad  heart !  in  what  way,  Jacob  ? " 

"  In  realising  the  fable  of  the  boys  and  the  frogs  with 
the  poor  old  Domine,  forgetting  that  what  may  be  sport 
to  you  is  death  to  him." 


Jacob  Faithful  247 

**  You  don't  mean  to  say  that  he'll  die  of  love,"  replied 
Mary,  laughing. 

*'I  should  hope  not:  but  you  may  contrive,  and  you 
have  tried  all  in  your  power,  to  make  him  very  wretched." 

"  And,  pray,  how  do  you  know  that  I  do  not  like  the 
old  gentleman,  Jacob  ?  You  appear  to  think  that  a  girl  is 
to  fall  in  love  with  nobody  but  yourself.  Why  should  I 
not  love  an  old  man  with  so  much  learning  ?  I  have  been 
told  that  old  husbands  are  much  prouder  of  their  wives 
than  young  ones,  and  pay  them  more  attention,  and  don't 
run  after  other  women.  How  do  you  know  that  I  am 
not  serious  ? " 

"  Because  I  know  your  character,  Mary,  and  am  not  to 
be  deceived.  If  you  mean  to  defend  yourself  in  that  way, 
we  had  better  not  talk  any  more." 

"  Lord,  how  savage  you  are  !  Well,  then  suppose  I 
did  pay  the  old  gentleman  any  attention.  Did  the  young 
ones  pay  me  any .''  Did  either  you,  or  your  precious 
friend,  Mr  Tom,  even  speak  to  me .'' " 

"  No ;  we  saw  how  you  were  employed,  and  we  both 
hate  a  jilt." 

"O!  you  do.  Very  well,  sir;  just  as  you  please.  I 
may  make  both  of  your  hearts  ache  for  this,  some  day  or 
another." 

"Forewarned,  forearmed,  Mary;  and  I  shall  take  care 
that  they  are  both  forewarned  as  well  as  myself.  As  I 
perceive  that  you  are  so  decided,  I  shall  say  no  more. 
Only  for  your  own  sake,  and  your  own  happiness,  I  caution 
you.  Recollect  your  mother,  Mary,  and  recollect  your 
mother's  death." 

Mary  covered  her  face  and  burst  into  tears.  She  sobbed 
for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  came  to  me.  *'  You  are  right, 
Jacob,  and  I  am  a  foolish — perhaps  wicked — girl ;  but 
forgive  me,  and  indeed  I  will  try  to  behave  better.  But, 
as  father  says,  it  is  human  nature  in  me,  and  it's  hard  to 
conquer  our  natures,  Jacob." 

"Will  you  promise  me  not  to  continue  your  advances 
to  the  Domine,  Mary  ? " 


248  Jacob  Faithful 

"I  will  not,  if  I  can  help  it,  Jacob.  I  may  forget  for 
the  moment,  but  I'll  do  all  I  can.  It's  not  very  easy  to 
look  grave  when  one  is  merry,  or  sour  when  one  is  pleased." 

"  But  what  can  induce  you,  Mary,  to  practise  upon  an 
old  man  like  him  ?  If  it  were  young  Tom,  I  could  under- 
stand it.  There  might  be  some  credit,  and  your  pride 
might  be  flattered  by  the  victory  j  but  an  old  man " 

"Still,  Jacob,  old  or  young,  it's  much  the  same.  I 
would  like  to  have  them  all  at  my  feet,  and  that's  the 
truth.  I  can't  help  it.  And  I  thought  it  a  great  victory 
to  bring  there  a  wise  old  man,  who  was  so  full  of  Latin 
and  learning,  and  who  ought  to  know  better.  Tell  me, 
Jacob,  if  old  men  allow  themselves  to  be  caught,  as  well 
as  young,  where  is  the  crime  of  catching  them  ?  Isn't 
there  as  much  vanity  in  an  old  man,  in  his  supposing  that 
I  really  could  love  him,  as  there  is  in  me,  who  am  but  a 
young  foolish  girl,  in  trying  to  make  him  fond  of  me  ? " 

"  That  may  be ;  but  still  recollect  that  he  is  in  earnest, 
and  you  are  only  joking,  which  makes  a  great  difference  j 
and  recollect  further,  that  in  trying  at  all,  we  very  often 
lose  all." 

"That  I  would  take  my  chance  of,  Jacob,"  replied 
Mary,  proudly  throwing  her  curly  ringlets  back  with  her 
hand  from  her  white  forehead ;  "  but  what  I  now  want  is 
to  make  friends  with  you.  Come,  Jacob,  you  have  my 
promise  to  do  my  best." 

"  Yes,  Mary,  and  I  believe  you,  so  there's  my  hand." 

"  You  don't  know  how  miserable  I  have  been,  Jacob, 
since  we  quarrelled,"  said  Mary,  wiping  the  tears  away, 
which  again  commenced  flowing  ;  *'  and  yet  I  don't  knov/ 
why,  for  I'm  sure  I  have  almost  hated  you  this  last  week — 
that  I  have ;  but  the  fact  is  I  like  quarrelling  very  well 
for  the  pleasure  of  making  it  up  again ;  but  not  for  the 
quarrel  to  last  so  long  as  this  has  done." 

"It  has  annoyed  me  too,  Mary,  for  I  like  you  very 
much  in  general." 

"  Well,  then,  now  it's  all  over ;  but,  Jacob,  are  you 
sure  you  are  friends  with  me  ? " 


Jacob  Faithful  249 

"  Yes,  Mary." 

Mary  looked  archly  at  me.  "  You  know  the  old  saw, 
and  I  feel  the  truth  of  it." 

"What,  'kiss  and  make  friends'?"  replied  I;  "with 
all  my  heart,"  and  I  kissed  her,  without  any  resistance  on 
her  part. 

"No,  I  didn't  mean  that,  Jacob." 

"What  then.?" 

"  O  !  'twas  another." 

"Well,  then,  what  was  the  other?" 

"  Never  mind,  I  forget  it  now,"  said  she,  laughing,  and 
rising  from  the  chair.  "  Now  I  must  go  to  my  work 
again,  and  you  must  tell  me  what  you've  been  doing  this 
last  fortnight." 

Mary  and  I  entered  into  a  long  and  amicable  conversa- 
tion, till  her  father  came  home,  when  we  retired  to  bed. 
"  I  think,"  said  old  Stapleton,  the  next  morning,  "  that 
I've  had  work  enough ;  and  I've  belonged  to  two  benefit 
clubs  for  so  long  as  to  'title  me  to  an  allowance.  I  think, 
Jacob,  I  shall  give  up  the  wherry  to  you,  and  you  shall 
in  future  give  me  one-third  of  your  earnings,  and  keep 
the  rest  to  yourself.  I  don't  see  why  you're  to  work  hard 
all  day  for  nothing."  I  remonstrated  against  this  excess 
of  liberality ;  but  old  Stapleton  was  positive,  and  the 
arrangement  was  made.  I  afterwards  discovered,  what 
may  probably  occur  to  the  reader,  that  Captain  Turnbull 
was  at  the  bottom  of  all  this.  He  had  pensioned  old 
Stapleton,  that  I  might  become  independent  by  my  own 
exertions  before  I  had  served  my  apprenticeship ;  and 
after  breakfast,  old  Stapleton  walked  down  with  me  to 
the  beach,  and  we  launched  the  boat.  "  Recollect, 
Jacob,"  said  he,  "one-third,  and  honour  bright;"  so 
saying,  he  adjourned  to  his  old  quarters,  the  public-house, 
to  smoke  his  pipe  and  think  of  human  natur.  I  do  not 
recollect  any  day  of  my  life  on  which  I  felt  more  happy 
than  on  this :  I  was  working  for  myself,  and  independent. 
I  jumped  into  my  wherry,  and  without  waiting  for  a  fare, 
I  pushed  off,  and  gaining  the  stream,  cleaved  through  the 


250  Jacob  Faithful 

water  with  delight  as  my  reward ;  but  after  a  quarter  of 
an  hour  I  sobered  down  with  the  recollection  that  although 
I  might  pull  about  for  nothing,  for  my  own  amusement, 
that  as  Stapleton  was  entitled  to  one-third,  I  had  no  right 
to  neglect  his  interest ;  and  I  shot  my  wherry  into  the 
row,  and  stood  with  my  hand  and  fore-finger  raised 
watching  the  eye  of  every  one  who  came  towards  the 
hard.  I  was  fortunate  that  day,  and  when  I  returned, 
was  proceeding  to  give  Stapleton  his  share,  when  he 
stopped  me.  "Jacob,  it's  no  use  dividing  now;  once 
a  week  will  be  better.  I  likes  things  to  come  in  a  lump  ; 
'cause  d'ye  see — it's — it's — human  naturT 


Chapter    XXVII 

A  good  fare — Eat  your  pudding  and  hold  your  tongue — The  Domine 
crossed  in  love — The  crosser  also  crossed — I  find  that  "  all  the  world's 
a  stage,"  not  excepting  the  stern  sheets  of  my  wherry — Cleopatra's 
barge  apostrophised  on  the  River  Thames. 

I  CONSIDER  that  the  present  was  the  period  from  which  I 
might  date  my  first  launching  into  human  life.  I  was  now 
nearly  eighteen  years  old,  strong,  active,  and  well  made, 
full  of  spirits,  and  overjoyed  at  the  independence  which  I 
had  so  much  sighed  for.  Since  the  period  of  my  dismissal 
from  Mr  Drummond's  my  character  had  much  altered. 
I  had  become  grave  and  silent,  brooding  over  my  wrongs, 
harbouring  feelings  of  resentment  against  the  parties,  and 
viewing  the  world  in  general  through  a  medium  by  no 
means  favourable.  I  had  become  in  some  degree  restored 
from  this  unwholesome  state  of  mind  from  having  rendered 
an  important  service  to  Captain  Turnbull,  for  we  love 
the  world  better  as  we  feel  that  we  are  more  useful  in  it ; 
but  the  independence  now  given  to  me  was  the  acme  of 
my  hopes  and  wishes.  I  felt  so  happy,  so  buoyant  in 
mind,  that  I  could  even  think  of  the  two  clerks  in  Mr 
Drummond's  employ  without  feelings  of  revenge.      Let 


Jacob  Faithful  251 

it,  however,  be  remembered,  that  the  world  was  all 
before  me  in  anticipation  only. 

"Boat,  sir?" 

*'  No,  thanky,  my  lad.  I  want  old  Stapleton—is  he 
here?" 

*'  No,  sir,  but  this  is  his  boat." 

*'  Humph,  can't  he  take  me  down  ?  " 

"  No,  sir ;  but  I  can,  if  you  please." 

"  Well,  then,  be  quick." 

A  sedate  looking  gentleman,  about  forty-five  years  of 
age,  stepped  into  the  boat,  and  in  a  few  seconds  I  was  in 
the  stream,  shooting  the  bridge  with  the  ebbing  tide. 

"  What's  the  matter  with  deaf  Stapleton  ? " 

"Nothing,  sir;  but  he's  getting  old,  and  has  made  the 
boat  over  to  me." 

"  Are  you  his  son  ?" 

"  No,  sir,  his  'prentice." 

"  Humph  !  sorry  deaf  Stapleton's  gone." 

"  I  can  be  as  deaf  as  he,  sir,  if  you  wish  it." 

"  Humph ! " 

The  gentleman  said  no  more  at  the  time,  and  I  pulled 
down  the  river  in  silence ;  but  in  a  few  minutes  he  began 
to  move  his  hands  up  and  down,  and  his  lips,  as  if  he  was 
in  conversation.  Gradually  his  action  increased,  and  words 
were  uttered.  At  last  he  broke  out : — "  It  is  with  this  con- 
viction, I  may  say  important  conviction,  Mr  Speaker,  that  I 
now  deliver  my  sentiments  to  the  Commons'  House  of  Parlia- 
ment, trusting  that  no  honourable  member  will  decide  until 
he  has  fully  weighed  the  importance  of  the  arguments  which  I 
have  submitted  to  his  judgment."  He  then  stopped,  as  if 
aware  that  I  was  present,  and  looked  at  me ;  but,  prepared 
as  I  was,  there  was  nothing  in  my  countenance  which  ex- 
hibited the  least  sign  of  merriment ;  or,  indeed,  of  having 
paid  any  attention  to  what  he  had  been  saying,  for  I  looked 
carelessly  to  the  right  and  left  at  the  banks  of  the  river. 
He  again  entered  into  conversation, 

"  Have  you  been  long  on  the  river  ? " 

"  Born  on  it,  sir." 


252  Jacob  Faithful 

"  How  do  you  like  the  profession  of  a  waterman  ? '' 

"Very  well,  sir;  the  great  point  is  to  have  regular 
customers." 

"  And  how  do  you  gain  them  ? " 

"By  holding  my  tongue;  keeping  their  counsel  and  my 
own," 

"  Very  good  answer,  my  boy.  People  who  have  much 
to  do  cannot  afford  to  lose  even  their  time  on  the  water. 
Just  now  I  was  preparing  and  thinking  over  my  speech  in 
the  House  of  Commons." 

"  So  I  supposed,  sir,  and  I  think  the  river  is  a  very  good 
place  for  it,  as  no  one  can  overhear  you  except  the  person 
whose  services  you  have  hired — and  you  need  not  mind 
him." 

"Very  true,  my  lad;  but  that's  why  I  liked  deaf 
Stapleton  ;  he  could  not  hear  a  word." 

"  But  sir,  if  you've  no  objection,  I  like  to  hear  it  very 
much  ;  and  you  may  be  sure  that  I  should  never  say  any- 
thing about  it,  if  you  will  trust  me." 

"  Do  you,  my  lad  ?  well,  then  I'll  just  try  it  over  again. 
You  shall  be  the  Speaker — mind  you  hold  your  tongue, 
and  don't  interrupt  me." 

The  gentleman  then  began  :  "  Mr  Speaker,  I  should  not 
have  ventured  to  address  the  House  at  this  late  hour,  did 
I  not  consider  that  the  importance  of  the  question  now 
before  it  is — so  important — no,  that  won't  do — did  I  not 
consider  that  the  question  now  before  it  is  of  that,  I  may 
say,  paramount  importance  as  to  call  forth  the  best  energies 
of  every  man  who  is  a  well-wisher  to  his  country.  With 
this  conviction,  Mr  Speaker,  humble  individual  as  I  am, 
I  feel  it  my  duty,  I  may  say,  my  bounden  duty,  to  deliver 
my  sentiments  upon  the  subject.  The  papers  which  I  now 
hold  in  my  hand,  Mr  Speaker,  and  to  which  I  shall  soon 
have  to  call  the  attention  of  the  House,  will,  I  trust,  fully 
establish " 

"  I  say,  waterman,  be  you  taking  that  chap  to  Bedlam  ? " 
cried  a  shrill  female  voice  close  to  us.  The  speech  was 
stopped ;  we  looked  up,  and  perceived  a  wherry  with  two 


Jacob  Faithful  253 

females  passing  close  to  us,  A  shout  of  laughter  followed 
the  observation,  and  my  fare  looked  very  much  confused 
and  annoyed. 

I  had  often  read  the  papers  in  the  public-house,  and  re- 
membering what  was  usual  in  the  House  in  case  of  in- 
terruption, called  out,  "  Order,  order  !  "  This  made  the 
gentleman  laugh,  and  as  the  other  wherry  was  now  far  off, 
he  recommenced  his  oration,  with  which  I  shall  not  trouble 
my  readers.  It  was  a  very  fair  speech,  I  have  no  doubt, 
but  I  forget  what  it  was  about. 

I  landed  him  at  "Westminster  Bridge,  and  received  treble 
my  fare.  "  Recollect,"  said  he,  on  paying  me,  "  that  I 
shall  look  out  for  you  when  I  come  again,  which  I  do 
every  Monday  morning,  and  sometimes  oftener.  What's 
your  name  ? " 

"Jacob,  sir." 

"Very  well;  good  morning,  my  lad." 

This  gentleman  became  a  very  regular  and  excellent 
customer,  and  we  used  to  have  a  great  deal  of  conversation, 
independent  of  debating,  in  the  wherry ;  and  I  must  ac- 
knowledge that  I  received  from  him  not  only  plenty  of 
money,  but  a  great  deal  of  valuable  information. 

A  few  days  after  this  I  had  an  opportunity  of  ascertaining 
how  far  Mary  would  keep  her  promise.  I  was  plying  at 
the  river  side  as  usual,  when  old  Stapleton  came  up  to  me, 
with  his  pipe  in  his  mouth,  and  said,  "  Jacob,  there  be  that 
old  gentleman  up  at  our  house  with  Mary.  Now,  I  sees  a 
great  deal,  but  I  says  nothing.  Mary  will  be  her  mother 
over  again,  that's  sartain.  Suppose  you  go  and  see  your 
old  teacher,  and  leave  me  to  look  a'ter  a  customer.  I  begin 
to  feel  as  if  handling  the  sculls  a  little  would  be  of  sarvice 
to  me.  We  all  think  idleness  be  a  very  pleasant  thing 
when  we're  obliged  to  work,  but  when  we  are  idle,  then 
we  feel  that  a  little  work  be  just  as  agreeable — that's 
human  natur." 

I  thought  that  Mary  was  very  likely  to  forget  all  her 
good  resolutions,  from  her  ardent  love  of  admiration,  and 
I  was  determined  to  go  and  break  up  the  conference.     I, 


254  Jacob  Faithful 

therefore,  left  the  boat  to  Stapleton,  and  hastened  to  the 
house,  I  did  not  like  to  play  the  part  of  an  eavesdropper, 
and  was  quite  undecided  how  I  should  act  •,  whether  to  go 
in  at  once  or  not,  when,  as  I  passed  under  the  window, 
which  was  open,  I  heard  very  plainly  the  conversation 
which  was  going  on.  I  stopped  in  the  street,  and  listened 
to  the  Domine  in  continuation.  "  But,  fair  maiden,  omnia 
vincit  amor — here  am  I,  Domine  Dobbs,  who  have  long 
passed  the  grand  climacteric,  and  can  already  muster  three 
score  years — who  have  authority  over  seventy  boys — 
being  Magister  Princeps  et  Dux  of  Brentford  Grammar 
School  —  who  have  afFectioned  only  the  sciences,  and 
communed  only  with  the  classics — who  have  ever  turned 
a  deaf  ear  to  the  allurements  of  thy  sex,  and  even  hardened 
my  heart  to  thy  fascination — here  am  I,  even  I,  Domine 
Dobbs,  suing  at  the  feet  of  a  maiden  who  had  barely 
ripened  into  womanhood,  who  knoweth  not  to  read  or 
write,  and  whose  father  earns  his  bread  by  manual  labour. 
I  feel  it  all — I  feel  that  I  am  too  old — that  thou  art  too 
young — that  I  am  departing  from  the  ways  of  wisdom,  and 
am  regardless  of  my  worldly  prospects.  Still,  omnia  vincit 
amor,  and  I  bow  to  the  all-powerful  god,  doing  him  homage 
through  thee,  Mary.  Vainly  have  I  resisted — vainly  have 
I,  as  I  have  lain  in  my  bed,  tried  to  drive  thee  from  my 
thoughts,  and  tear  thine  image  from  my  heart.  Have  I  not 
felt  thy  presence  everywhere  ?  Do  not  I  astonish  my 
worthy  coadjutor.  Mistress  Bately,  the  matron,  by  calling 
her  by  the  name  of  Mary,  when  I  had  always  before 
addressed  her  by  her  baptismal  name  of  Deborah  ?  Nay, 
have  not  the  boys  in  the  classes  discovered  my  weakness, 
and  do  they  not  shout  out  Mary  in  their  hours  of  play  ? 
Mare  periculosum  et  turbidum  hast  thou  been  to  me.  I 
sleep  not — I  eat  not, — and  every  sign  of  love  which  hath 
been  adduced  by  Ovidius  Naso,  whom  I  have  diligently 
collated,  do  I  find  in  mine  own  person.  Speak,  then 
maiden.  I  have  given  vent  to  my  feelings,  do  thou  the 
same,  that  I  may  return,  and  leave  not  my  flock  without 
their  shepherd.     Speak,  maiden." 


Jacob  Faithful  255 

"I  will,  sir,  if  you  will  get  up,"  replied  Mary,  who 
paused,  and  then  continued.  "I  think,  sir,"  that  I  am 
young  and  foolish,  and  you  are  old  and — and " 

"  Foolish,  thou  wouldst  say." 

*'  I  had  rather  you  said  it,  sir,  than  I ;  it  is  not  for  me 
to  use  such  an  expression  towards  one  so  learned  as  you 
are.  I  think,  sir,  that  I  am  too  young  to  marry  5  and 
that  perhaps  you  are — too  old.  I  think,  sir,  that  you  are 
too  clever — and  that  I  am  very  ignorant ;  that  it  would  not 
suit  you  in  your  situation  to  marry ;  and  that  it  would  not 
suit  me  to  marry  you — equally  obliged  to  you  all  the  same." 

"Perhaps  thou  hast  in  thy  reply  proved  the  wiser  of  the 
two,"  answered  the  Domine ;  "  but  why,  maiden,  didst 
thou  raise  those  feelings,  those  hopes  in  my  breast,  only 
to  cause  me  pain,  and  make  me  drink  deep  of  the  cup  of 
disappointment  ?  Why  didst  thou  appear  to  cling  to  me  in 
fondness,  if  thou  felt  not  a  yearning  towards  me  ? " 

"  But  are  there  no  other  sorts  of  love  besides  the  one 
you  would  require,  sir  ?  May  I  not  love  you  because  you 
are  so  clever,  and  so  learned  in  Latin .''  May  I  not  love 
you  as  I  do  my  father  ? " 

"True,  true,  child;  it  is  all  my  own  folly,  and  I  must 
retrace  my  steps  in  sorrow.  I  have  been  deceived — but  I 
have  been  deceived  only  by  myself.  My  wishes  have 
clouded  my  understanding,  and  have  obscured  my  reason ; 
have  made  me  forgetful  of  my  advanced  years,  and  of  the 
little  favour  I  was  likely  to  find  in  the  eyes  of  a'  young 
maiden.  I  have  fallen  into  a  pit  through  blindness,  and  I 
must  extricate  myself,  sore  as  will  be  the  task.  Bless 
thee,  maiden,  bless  thee !  May  another  be  happy  in  thy 
love,  and  never  feel  the  barb  of  disappointment.  I  will 
pray  for  thee,  Mary — that  Heaven  may  bless  thee."  And 
the  Domine  turned  away  and  wept. 

Mary  appeared  to  be  moved  by  the  good  old  man's 
affliction,  and  her  heart  probably  smote  her  for  her 
coquettish  behaviour.  She  attempted  to  console  the 
Domine,  and  appeared  to  be  more  than  half  crying  herself. 
"Nay,  sir,   do   not  take  on  so,  you  make  me  feel  very 


256  Jacob  Faithful 

uncomfortable.  I  have  been  wrong — I  feel  I  have — 
though  you  have  not  blamed  me.  I  am  a  very  foolish 
girl." 

"Bless  thee,  child — bless  thee!  "  replied  the  Domine,  in 
a  subdued  voice. 

'*  Indeed,  sir,  I  don't  deserve  it — I  feel  I  do  not ;  but 
pray  do  not  grieve,  sir ;  things  will  go  cross  in  love. 
Now,  sir,  I'll  tell  you  a  secret,  to  prove  it  to  you.  I  love 
Jacob — love  him  very  much,  and  he  does  not  care  for  me 
— I  am  sure  he  does  not ;  so,  you  see,  sir,  you  are  not  the 
only  one — who  is — very  unhappy  j "  and  Mary  commenced 
sobbing  with  the  Domine. 

"Poor  thing!"  said  the  Domine j  "and  thou  lovest 
Jacob  .'*  truly  is  he  worthy  of  thy  love.  And,  at  thy  early 
age,  thou  knowest  what  it  is  to  have  thy  love  unrequited. 
Truly  is  this  a  vale  of  tears — yet  let  us  be  thankful. 
Guard  well  thy  heart,  child,  for  Jacob  may  not  be  for 
thee ;  nay,  I  feel  that  he  will  not  be." 

"  And  why  so,  sir .''"  replied  Mary,  despondingly. 

"  Because,  maiden — but  nay,  I  must  not  tell  thee  ;  only 
take  my  warning,  which  is  meant  in  kindness  and  in  love. 
Fare  thee  well,  Mary — fare  thee  well  !  I  come  not  here 
again." 

"  Good-bye,  sir,  and  pray  forgive  me ;  this  will  be  a 
warning  to  me." 

"  Verily,  maiden,  it  will  be  a  warning  to  us  both,  God 
bless  thee ! " 

I  discovered  by  the  sound,  that  Mary  had  vouchsafed  to 
the  Domine  a  kiss,  and  heard  soon  afterwards  his  steps, 
as  he  descended  the  stairs.  Not  wishing  to  meet  him,  I 
turned  round  the  corner,  and  went  down  to  the  river, 
thinking  over  what  had  passed.  I  felt  pleased  with  Mary, 
but  I  was  not  in  love  with  her. 

The  spring  was  now  far  advanced,  and  the  weather  was 
delightful.  The  river  was  beautiful,  and  parties  of 
pleasure  were  constantly  to  be  seen  floating  up  and  down 
with  the  tide.  The  Westminster  boys,  the  Funny  Club, 
and  other  amateurs  in  their  fancy  dresses,  enlivened  the 


Jacob  Faithful  257 

scene ;  while  the  races  for  prize  wherries,  which  occasion- 
ally took  place,  rendered  the  water  one  mass  of  life  and 
motion.  How  I  longed  for  my  apprenticeship  to  be  over, 
that  I  might  try  for  a  prize !  One  of  my  best  customers 
was  a  young  man,  who  was  an  actor  at  one  of  the  theatres, 
and  who,  like  the  M.P.,  used  to  rehearse  the  whole  time 
he  was  in  the  boat ;  but  he  was  a  lively,  noisy  personage, 
full  of  humour,  and  perfectly  indifferent  as  to  appearances. 
He  had  a  quiz  and  a  quirk  for  everybody  that  passed  in 
another  boat,  and  would  stand  up  and  rant  at  them  until 
they  considered  him  insane.  We  were  on  very  intimate 
terms,  and  I  never  was  more  pleased  than  when  he  made 
his  appearance,  as  it  was  invariably  the  signal  for  mirth. 
The  first  time  I  certainly  considered  him  to  be  a  lunatic, 
for  playhouse  phraseology  was  quite  new  to  me.  "Boat, 
sir,"  cried  I  to  him  as  he  came  to  the  hard. 

"  My  affairs  do  even  drag  me  homeward.  Goon;  I'll 
follow  thee,"  replied  he,  leaping  into  the  boat.  "  Our 
fortune  lies  upon  this  jump." 

I  shoved  off  the  wherry  :  "  Down,  sir  ? " 

"Down,"  replied  he,  pointing  downwards  with  his 
finger,  as  if  pushing  at  something  : 

"Down,  down  to  h — 11,  and  say  I  sent  you  there," 

"  Thanky,  sir,  I'd  rather  not,  if  it's  all  the  same  to 
you." 

"  Our  tongue  is  rough,  coz — and  my  condition  is  not 
smooth."  We  shot  the  bridge,  and  went  rapidly  down 
with  the  tide,  when  he  again  commenced  : — 

"Thus  with  imagin'd  wing  our  soft  scene  flies, 
In  motion  of  no  less  celerity 
Than  that  of  thought." 

Then  his  attention  was  drawn  by  a  collier's  boat,  pulled 
by  two  men  as  black  as  chimney-sweeps,  with  three 
women  in  the  stern-sheets.  They  made  for  the  centre  of 
the  river,  to  get  into  the  strength  of  the  tide,  and  were 
soon  abreast  and  close  to  the  wherry,  pulling  with  us 
down  the  stream. 

J.F.  R 


258  Jacob  Faithful 

"  There's  a  dandy  young  man,"  said  one  of  the  women, 
with  an  old  straw  bonnet  and  very  dirty  ribbons,  laughing, 
and  pointing  to  my  man. 

"  Plead  you  to  me,  fair  dame  ?     I  know  you  not ; 
At  Ephesus  I  am  but  two  hours  old, 
As  strange  unto  your  town  as  to  your  talk." 

*'  Well,  he  be  a  reg'lar  rum  cove,  I've  a  notion,"  said 
another  of  the  women,  when  she  witnessed  the  theatrical 
airs  of  the  speaker,  who  immediately  recommenced — 

"  The  barge  she  sat  in,  like  a  burnish'd  throne, 
Burn'd  on  the  water — the  poop  was  beaten  gold, 
Purple  the  sails,  and  so  perfumed  that 
The  winds  were  love-sick  with  them ;  the  oars  were  silver. 
Which  to  the  tune  of  flutes  kept  stroke,  and  made 
The  water,  which  they  beat,  to  follow  faster, 
As  amorous  of  their  strokes.     For  her  own  person, 
It  beggar'd  all  description." 

"  Come,  I'll  be  blowed  but  we've  had  enough  of  that,  so 
just  shut  your  pan,"  said  one  of  the  women,  angrily. 

"  Her  gentlewomen,  like  the  Naiades, 
So  many  mermaids  tend  her." 

"  Mind  what  you're  arter,  or  your  mouth  will  tend  to 
your  mischief,  young  fellow." 

"  From  the  barge 
A  strange,  invisible  perfume  hits  the  sense 
Of  the  adjacent  wharfs." 

"  Jem,  just  run  him  alongside,  and  break  his  head  with 
your  oar." 

"  I  thinks  as  how  I  will,  if  he  don't  mend  his  manners." 

"  I  saw  her  once 
Hop  forty  paces  through  the  public  streets." 

"  You  lie,  you  liver-faced  rascal.  I  never  walked  the 
streets  in  my  life  ;  I'm  a  lawful  married  woman.  Jem,  do 
you  call  yourself  a  man,  and  stand  this  here  .'' " 

"Well,  now,  Sal,  but  he's  a  nice  young  man.  Now 
an't  he  ?  "  observed  one  of  the  other  women. 


Jacob  Faithful  259 

"  Away, 
Away,  you  trifler.     Love  !   I  know  thee  not, 
I  care  not  for  thee,  Kate :  this  is  no  world 
To  play  with  mammets,  and  to  tilt  with  lips ; 
We  must  have  bloody  noses  and  cracked  crowns." 

"  I've  a  notion  you  will,  too,  my  hearty,"  interrupted 
one  of  the  colliers.  **  That  'ere  long  tongue  of  yours  will 
bring  you  into  disgrace.  Bill,  give  her  a  jerk  towards  the 
wherry,  and  we'll  duck  him." 

"  My  friend,"  said  the  actor,  addressing  me, 

•'  Let  not  his  unwholesome  corpse  come  between  the  wind 
And  my  nobility. 

Let  us  exeunt,  O.P." 

Although  I  could  not  understand  his  phrases,  I  knew 
very  well  what  he  meant,  and  pulling  smartly,  I  shoved 
towards  the  shore,  and  ahead.  Perceiving  this,  the  men  in 
the  boat,  at  the  intimation  of  the  women,  who  stood  up, 
waving  their  bonnets,  gave  chase  to  us,  and  my  companion 
appeared  not  a  little  alarmed.  However,  by  great  exertion 
on  my  part,  we  gained  considerably,  and  they  abandoned 
the  pursuit. 

"  Now,  by  two-headed  Janus,"  said  my  companion,  as  he 
looked  back  upon  the  colliers — 

"  Nature  hath  framed  strange  fellows  in  her  time, 
Some  that  will  evermore  peep  through  their  eyes, 
And  laugh  like  parrots  at  a  bagpiper, 
And  others  of  such  a  vinegar  aspect 
That  they'll  not  show  their  teeth  by  way  of  smile, 
Though  Nestor  swear  the  jest  be  laughable. 

*'  And  now,"  continued  he,  addressing  me,  "  what's  your 
name,  sir  ?  Of  what  condition  are  you — and  of  what  place, 
I  pray.?" 

Amused  with  what  had  passed,  I  replied,  "  That  my 
name  was  Jacob — that  I  was  a  waterman,  and  born  on  the 
river." 

"I  find  thee  apt;  but  tell  me,  art  thou  perfect  that  our 
ship  hath  touched  upon  the  deserts  of  Bohemia  .? " 

"  Do  you  land  at  Westminster,  sir  ? " 


26o  Jacob  Faithful 

"  No  ;  at  Blackfriars — there  attend  my  coming. 

"  Base  is  the  slave  who  pays  ;  nevertheless,  what  is  your 
fare,  my  lad  ? 

"  What  money's  in  my  purse  ?     Seven  groats  and  twopence 

"  By  Jove,  I  am  not  covetous  of  gold, 
Nor  care  I  who  doth  feed  upon  my  cost. 

But, 

"  I  can  get  no  remedy  for  this  consumption  of  the  purse. 

Here,  my  lad,  is  that  enough  .'' " 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  thank  you." 

"  Remember  poor  Jack,  sir,"  said  the  usual  attendant  at 
the  landing  place,  catching  his  arm  as  he  careened  the 
wherry  on  getting  out. 

"If  he  fall  in,  good-night — or  sink  or  swim." 

"  Jack,  there  is  a  penny  for  you.  Jacob,  farewell — we 
meet  again ; "  and  away  he  went,  taking  three  of  the  stone 
steps  at  each  spring.  This  gentleman's  name  was,  as  I 
afterwards  found  out,  Tinfoil,  an  actor  of  second-rate 
merit  on  the  London  boards.  The  Haymarket  Theatre 
was  where  he  principally  performed,  and,  as  we  became 
better  acquainted,  he  offered  to  procure  me  orders  to  see 
the  play  when  I  should  wish  to  go  there. 


Chapter  XXVIII 

The  picnic  party — Sufferings  by  ml,  ice,  fire,  and  water — Upon  the  whole 
the  "  divarting  vagabonds,"  as  the  Thespian  heroes  and  heroines  are 
classically  termed,  are  very  happy,  excepting  Mr  Winterbottom,  whose 
feelings  are  by  sitting  down,  down  to  zero. 

One  morning  he  came  down  to  the  hard,  and,  as  usual,  I 
expected  that  he  would  go  down  the  river.  I  ran  to  my 
boat,  and  hauled  in  close. 

"No,  Jacob,  no  ;  this  day  you  will  not  carry  Caesar  and 
his  fortunes,  but  I  have  an  order  for  you." 

"  Thank  you,  sir  j  what  is  the  play  ? " 


Jacob  Faithful  261 

"  The  play — pooh  !  no  play  j  but  I  hope  it  will  prove  a 
farce,  nevertheless,  before  it's  over.  We  are  to  have  a 
picnic  party  upon  one  of  those  little  islands  up  the  river 
by  Kew.  All  sock  and  buskin,  all  theatricals  :  if  the 
wherries  upset,  the  Haymarket  may  shut  up,  for  it  will  be 
*  exeunt  omnes '  with  all  its  best  performers.  Look  you, 
Jacob,  we  shall  want  three  wherries,  and  I  leave  you  to 
pick  out  the  other  two — oars  in  each,  of  course.  You 
must  be  at  Whitehall  steps  exactly  at  nine  o'clock,  and  I 
daresay  the  ladies  won't  make  you  wait  more  than  an  hour 
or  two,  which,  for  them,  is  tolerably  punctual." 

Mr  Tinfoil  then  entered  into  the  arrangement  for  re- 
muneration, and  walked  away ;  and  I  was  conning  over  in 
my  mind  whom  I  should  select  from  my  brother  watermen, 
and  whether  I  should  ask  old  Stapleton  to  take  the  other 
oar  in  my  boat,  when  I  heard  a  voice,  never  to  be  mistaken 
by  me : — 

"  Life  is  like  a  summer  day, 
Warmed  by  a  sunny  ray." 

"  Lower  away  yet,  Tom.     That'll  do,  my  trump. 

"  Sometimes  a  dreary  cloud, 
Chill  blast,  or  tempest  loud. 

"  Look  out  for  Jacob,  Tom,"  cried  the  old  man,  as  the 
head  of  the  lighter,  with  her  mast  lowered  down,  made  its 
appearance  through  the  arch  of  Putney  Bridge,  with  bright 
blue  streaks  on  her  sides. 

"  Here  he  is,  father,"  replied  Tom,  who  was  standing 
forward  by  the  windlass,  with  the  fall  in  his  hand. 

I  had  shoved  off,  on  hearing  old  Tom's  voice,  and  was 
alongside  almost  as  soon  as  the  lighter  had  passed  under 
the  bridge,  and  discovered  old  Tom  at  the  helm.  I  sprang 
on  the  deck,  with  the  chain-painter  of  the  wherry  in  my 
hand,  made  it  fast,  and  went  aft  to  old  Tom,  who  seized 
my  hand. 

"  This  is  as  it  should  be,  my  boy,  both  on  the  look  out 
for  each  other.  The  heart  warms  when  we  know  the 
feeling   is   on   both   sides.      You're   seldom   out   of    our 


262  Jacob  Faithful 

thoughts,  boy,  and  always  in  our  hearts.  Now,  jump 
forward,  for  Tom's  fretting  to  greet  you,  I  see,  and  you 
may  just  as  well  help  him  to  sway  up  the  mast  when  you 
are  there." 

I  went  forward,  shook  hands  with  Tom,  and  then 
clapped  on  the  fall,  and  assisted  him  to  hoist  the  mast. 
We  then  went  aft  to  his  father,  and  communicated  every- 
thing of  interest  which  had  passed  since  our  last  meeting 
at  old  Stapleton's. 

"  And  how's  Mary  ? "  inquired  Tom  ;  "  she's  a  very  fine 
lass,  and  I've  thought  of  her  more  than  once  ;  but  I  saw 
that  all  you  said  about  her  was  true.  How  she  did  flam 
that  poor  old  Domine  !  " 

"  I  have  had  a  few  words  with  her  about  it,  and  she 
has  promised  to  be  wiser,"  replied  I ;  **  but  as  her  father 
says,  '  in  her,  it's  human  natur.' " 

**  She's  a  fine  craft,"  observed  old  Tom,  "  and  they 
always  be  a  little  ticklish.  But  Jacob,  you've  had  some 
inquiries  made  after  you,  and  by  the  women  too." 

"  Indeed  !  "  rephed  I. 

"  Yes  J  and  I  have  had  the  honour  of  being  sent  for 
into  the  parlour.     Do  you  guess  now  ?  " 

"  Yes,"  said  I,  a  gloom  coming  over  my  countenance. 
"  I  presume  it  is  Mrs  Drummond  and  Sarah  whom  you 
refer  to  ?  " 

"  Exactly." 

Tom  then  informed  me  that  Mrs  Drummond  had  sent 
for  him,  and  asked  a  great  many  questions  about  me,  and 
desired  him  to  say  that  they  were  very  glad  to  hear  that 
I  was  well  and  comfortable,  and  hoped  that  I  would  call 
and  see  her  and  Sarah  when  I  came  that  way.  Mrs 
Drummond  then  left  the  room,  and  Tom  was  alone  with 
Sarah,  who  desired  him  to  say,  that  her  father  had  found 
out  that  I  had  not  been  wrong  ;  that  he  had  dismissed  both 
the  clerks  ;  and  that  he  was  very  sorry  he  had  been  so 
deceived — and  then,  said  Tom,  Miss  Sarah  told  me  to  say 
from  herself,  that  she  had  been  very  unhappy  since  you 
had  left  them,  but  that  she  hoped  that  you  would  forgive 


Jacob  Faithful  263 

and  forget  some  day  or  another,  and  come  back  to  them  ; 
and  that  I  was  to  give  you  her  love,  and  call  next  time  we 
went  up  the  river  for  something  that  she  wanted  to  send  to 
you.  So  you  perceive,  Jacob,  that  you  are  not  forgotten, 
and  justice  has  been  done  to  you." 

"  Yes,"  replied  I,  "  but  it  has  been  done  too  late  ;  so 
let  us  say  no  more  about  it.     I  am  quite  happy  as  I  am." 

I  then  told  them  of  the  picnic  party  of  the  next  day,  upon 
which  Tom  volunteered  to  take  the  other  oar  in  my  boat, 
as  he  would  not  be  wanted  while  the  barge  was  at  the 
wharf.  Old  Tom  gave  his  consent,  and  it  was  agreed  he 
should  meet  me  next  morning  at  daylight. 

**  I've  a  notion  there'll  be  some  fun,  Jacob,"  said  he, 
**  from  what  you  say." 

"  I  think  so,  too ;  but  you've  towed  me  two  miles,  and 
I  must  be  off  again,  or  I  shall  lose  my  dinner  ;  so  good-bye." 
I  selected  two  other  wherries  in  the  course  of  the  afternoon, 
and  then  returned  home. 

It  was  a  lovely  morning  when  Tom  and  I  washed  out 
the  boat,  and,  having  dressed  ourselves  in  our  neatest 
clothes,  we  shoved  off  in  company  with  the  two  other 
wherries,  and  dropped  leisurely  down  the  river  with 
the  last  of  the  ebb.  When  we  pulled  in  to  the  stairs 
at  Whitehall,  we  found  two  men  waiting  for  us  with 
three  or  four  hampers,  some  baskets,  an  iron  saucepan,  a 
frying-pan,  and  a  large  tin  pail  with  a  cover,  full  of  rough 
ice  to  cool  the  wines.  We  were  directed  to  put  all  these 
articles  into  one  boat ;  the  others  to  be  reserved  for  the 
company. 

"  Jacob,"  said  Tom,  "  don't  let  us  be  kitchen ;  I'm 
togged  out  for  the  parlour." 

This  point  had  just  been  arranged,  and  the  articles  put 
into  the  wherry,  when  the  party  made  their  appearance, 
Mr  Tinfoil  acting  as  master  of  the  ceremonies. 

"  Fair  Titania,"  said  he,  to  the  lady  who  appeared  to 
demand,  and  therefore  received,  the  most  attention,  "  allow 
me  to  hand  you  to  your  throne." 

*'  Many  thanks,  good  Puck,"  replied  the  lady  j  "  we  are 


264  Jacob  Faithful 

well  placed  ;  but  dear  me,  we  ha'vn't  brought,  or  we  have 
lost,  our  vinaigrette  ;  we  positively  cannot  go  without  it. 
What  can  our  women  have  been  about  ? " 

"  Pease-blossom  and  Mustard-seed  are  much  to  blame," 
replied  Tinfoil ;  "  but  shall  I  run  back  for  it  ? " 

'*  Yes,"  replied  the  lady,  "  and  be  here  again,  ere  the 
leviathan  can  swim  a  league." 

*'  I'll  put  a  girdle  round  the  earth  in  forty  minutes,"  re- 
plied the  gentleman,  stepping  out  of  the  boat. 

"Won't  you  be  a  little  out  of  breath  before  you  come 
back,  sir  ?  "  said  Tom,  joining  the  conversation. 

This  remark,  far  from  giving  offence,  was  followed  by 
a  general  laugh.  Before  Mr  Tinfoil  was  out  of  sight,  the 
lost  vinaigrette  was  dropped  out  of  the  lady's  handkerchief  5 
he  was  therefore  recalled  ;  and  the  whole  of  the  party 
being  arranged  in  the  two  boats,  we  shoved  off;  the  third 
boat,  in  which  the  provender  had  been  stowed,  followed 
us,  and  was  occupied  by  the  two  attendants,  a  call-boy  and 
scene-shifter,  who  were  addressed  by  Tinfoil  as  Caliban 
and  Stephano. 

*'  Is  all  our  company  here  ?  "  said  a  pert-looking,  little 
pug-nosed  man,  who  had  taken  upon  himself  the  part  of 
Quince  the  carpenter,  in  the  Midsummer  Night's  Dream. 
"  You,  Nick  Bottom,"  continued  he,  addressing  another, 
"  are  set  down  for  Pyramus." 

The  party  addressed  did  not,  however,  appear  to  enter 
into  the  humour.  He  was  a  heavy  made,  rather  corpulent, 
white-faced  personage,  dressed  in  white  jean  trousers, 
white  waistcoat,  brown  coat,  and  white  hat.  Whether 
anything  had  put  him  out  of  humour,  I  know  not,  but 
it  is  evident  that  he  was  the  butt  of  the  ladies  and  of 
most  of  the  party. 

"  I'll  just  thank  you,"  replied  this  personage,  whose 
real  name  was  Winterbottom,  "  to  be  quiet,  Mr  Western, 
for  I  sha'n't  stand  any  of  your  nonsense." 

"  O,  Mr  Winterbottom,  surely  you  are  not  about  to 
sow  the  seeds  of  discord  so  early.  Look  at  the  scene 
before  you — hear  how  the  birds  are  singing,  how  merrily 


Jacob  Faithful  265 

the  sun  shines,  and  how  beautifully  the  water  sparkles ! 
Who  can  be  cross  on  such  a  morning  as  this  ? " 

"No,  miss,"  replied  Mr  Winterbottom,  "not  at  all — 
not  at  all — only  my  name's  Winterbottom,  and  not  Bottom. 
I  don't  wear  an  ass's  head  to  please  anybody — that's  all. 
I  won't  be  bottom — that's  ^«/." 

"  That  depends  upon  circumstances,  sir,"  observed  Tom. 

"What  business  have  you  to  shove  your  oar  in,  Mr 
Waterman  ? " 

"I  was  hired  for  the  purpose,"  replied  Tom,  dipping 
his  oar  in  the  water,  and  giving  a  hearty  stroke. 

"Stick  to  your  own  element  then — shove  your  oar  into 
the  water,  but  not  into  our  discourse." 

"  Well,  sir,  I  won't  say  another  word,  if  you  don't  like 
it." 

"  But  you  may  to  me,"  said  Titania,  laughing,  "  when- 
ever you  please." 

"  And  to  me  too,"  said  Tinfoil,  who  was  amused  with 
Tom's  replies. 

Mr  Winterbottom  became  very  wroth,  and  demanded 
to  be  put  on  shore  directly,  but  the  Fairy  Queen  ordered 
us  to  obey  him  at  our  peril,  and  Mr  Winterbottom  was 
carried  up  the  river  very  much  against  his  inclination. 

"  Our  friend  is  not  himself,"  said  Mr  Tinfoil,  producing 
a  key  bugle ;  "  but 

"  Music  hath  charms  to  soothe  the  savage  breast, 
To  soften  rocks,  and  rend  the  knotted  oak  ; 

and,  therefore,  will  we  try  the  effect  of  it  upon  his  senses. 
Mr  Tinfoil  then  played  the  air  in  "  Midas — " 

"  Pray  Goody,  please  to  moderate,"  &c. 

during  which  Mr  Winterbottom  looked  more  sulky  than 
ever.  As  soon  as  the  air  was  finished,  another  of  the 
party  responded  with  his  flute,  from  the  other  boat — 
while  Mr  Quince  played  what  he  called  base,  by  snapping 
his  fingers.  The  sounds  of  the  instruments  floated  along 
the   flowing   and   smooth  water,    reaching   the   ears   and 


266  Jacob  Faithful 

attracting  the  attention  of  many  who,  for  a  time,  rested 
from  their  labour,  or  hung  listlessly  over  the  gunnels  of 
the  vessels,  watching  the  boats,  and  listening  to  the 
harmony.  All  was  mirth  and  gaiety — the  wherries  kept 
close  to  each  other,  and  between  the  airs  the  parties  kept 
up  a  lively  and  witty  conversation,  occasionally  venting 
their  admiration  upon  the  verdure  of  the  sloping  lawns 
and  feathering  trees,  with  which  the  banks  of  the  noble 
river  are  so  beautifully  adorned ;  even  Mr  Winterbottom 
had  partially  recovered  his  serenity,  when  he  was  again 
irritated  by  a  remark  of  Quince,  who  addressed  him. 

*'  You  can  play  no  part  but  Py ramus ;  for  Py ramus  is 
a  sweet-faced  man — a  proper  man  as  one  shall  see  on  a 
summer's  day ;  a  most  lovely  gentleman-like  man ;  there- 
fore, you  must  needs  play  Pyramus." 

"  Take  care  I  don't  play  the  devil  with  your  Physiog- 
nomy, Mr  Western,"  retorted  Winterbottom. 

Here  Caliban,  in  the  third  boat,  began  playing  the  fiddle 
and  singing  to  it — 

"  Gaffer  Gray,  Gaffer's  son,  and  his  little  jackass, 
Were  trotting  along  the  road  ;  " 

the  chorus  of  which  ditty  was  "  Ec-aw,  Ec-aw ! "  like  the 
braying  of  a  jackass. 

*'  Bless  thee.  Bottom,  bless  thee ;  thou  art  translated," 
cried  Quince,  looking  at  Winterbottom. 

"Very  well — very  well,  Mr  Western.  I  don't  want 
to  upset  the  wherry,  and  therefore  you're  safe  at  present, 
but  the  reckoning  will  come — so  I  give  you  warning." 

"  Slaves  of  my  lamp,  do  my  bidding.  I  will  have  no 
quarrelling  here.  You,  Quince,  shut  your  mouth ;  you, 
Winterbottom,  draw  in  your  lips  and  I,  your  queen,  will 
charm  you  with  a  song,"  said  Titania,  waving  her  little 
hand.  The  fiddler  ceased  playing,  and  the  voice  of  the 
fair  actress  riveted  all  our  attention. 

"  Wilt  thou  waken,  bride  of  May, 
While  flowers  are  fresh,  and  sweet  bells  chime, 
Listen  and  learn  from  my  roundelay, 
How  all  life's  pilot  boats  sailed  one  day 
A  match  with  time! 


Jacob  Faithful  267 

**  Love  sat  on  a  lotus-leaf  aloft, 
And  saw  old  Time  in  his  loaded  boat, 
Slowly  he  crossed  Life's  narrow  tide, 
While  Love  sat  clapping  his  wings,  and  cried, 
'  Who  will  pass  Time  ?  ' 

*  Patience  came  first,  but  soon  was  gone, 

With  helm  and  sail  to  help  time  on ; 

Care  and  Grief  could  not  lend  an  oar. 

And  Prudence  said  (while  he  stayed  on  shore }, 

'  I  wait  for  Time.' 

«  Hope  filled  with  flowers  her  cork-tree  bark. 
And  lighted  its  helm  with  a  glow-worm's  spark ; 
Then  Love,  when  he  saw  his  bark  fly  past, 
Said,  '  Lingering  Time  will  soon  be  passed,' 
'  Hope  outspeeds  Time.' 

^  Wit  went  nearest  Old  Time  to  pass. 
With  his  diamond  oar  and  boat  of  glass, 
A  feathery  dart  from  his  store  he  drew, 
And  shouted,  while  far  and  swift  it  flew. 
'  O  Mirth  kills  Time.' 

"  But  Time  sent  the  feathery  arrow  back, 
Hope's  boat  of  Amaranth  miss'd  its  track : 
Then  Love  bade  his  butterfly-pilots  move, 
And  laughing,  said,  '  They  shall  see  how  Love 
Can  conquer  Time.' " 

I  need  hardly  say  that  the  song  was  rapturously  ap- 
plauded, and  most  deservedly  so.  Several  others  were  de- 
manded from  the  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  the  party,  and 
given  without  hesitation ;  but  I  cannot  now  recall  them  to 
my  memory.  The  bugle  and  flute  played  between  whiles, 
and  all  was  laughter  and  merriment. 

"  There's  a  sweet  place,"  said  Tinfoil,  pointing  to  a  villa 
on  the  Thames.  "Now,  with  the  fair  Titania  and  ten 
thousand  a  year,  one  could  there  live  happy." 

"  I'm  afraid  the  fair  Titania  must  go  to  market  without 
the  latter  incumbrance,"  replied  the  lady.  "  The  gentle- 
man must  find  the  ten  thousand  a-year,  and  I  must  bring 
as  my  dowry — " 

"Ten  thousand  charms,"  interrupted  Tinfoil — "that's 
most  true,  and  pity  'tis  'tis  true.  Did  your  fairyship  ever 
hear  my  epigram  on  the  subject  ? 


268  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Let  the  lads  of  the  East  love  the  maids  of  Cash-meer, 
Nor  affection  with  interests  clash ; 
Far  other  idolatry  pleases  us  here, 

We  adore  but  the  maids  of  Mere  Cash.''^ 

"  Excellent,  good  Puck  !     Have  you  any  more  ? " 
"Not  of  my  own,  but  you  have  heard  what  Winter- 
bottom  wrote  under  the  bust  of  Shakespeare  last  Jubilee?" 
"  I  knew  not  that  Apollo  had  ever  visited  him." 
**  You  shall  hear : 

"  In  thit  here  place  the  bones  of  Shakespeare  lie, 
But  that  ere  form  of  his  shall  never  die  ; 
A  speedy  end  and  soon  this  World  may  have, 
But  Shakespeare's  name  shall  bloom  beyond  the  grave." 

"I'll  trouble  you,  Mr  Tinfoil,  not  to  be  so  very  witty 
at  my  expense,"  growled  out  Winterbottom.  "  I  never 
wrote  a  line  of  poetry  in  my  life," 

"  No  one  said  you  did,  Winterbottom ;  but  you  won't 
deny  that  you  wrote  those  lines." 

Mr  Winterbottom  disdained  a  reply.  Gaily  did  we  pass 
the  variegated  banks  of  the  river,  swept  up  with  a  strong 
flood-tide,  and  at  last  arrived  at  a  little  island  agreed  upon 
as  the  site  of  the  picnic.  The  company  disembarked, 
and  were  busy  looking  for  a  convenient  spot  for  their 
entertainment,  Quince  making  a  rapid  escape  from  Winter- 
bottom,  the  latter  remaining  on  the  bank.  "  Jenkins," 
said  he  to  the  man  christened  Caliban,  "you  did  not  for- 
get the  salad  ? " 

"No,  sir;  I  brought  it  myself.  It's  on  the  top  of  the 
little  hamper." 

Mr  Winterbottom,  who  it  appears  was  extremely  partial  to 
salad,  was  satisfied  with  the  reply,  and  walked  slowly  away. 

"  Well,"  said  Tom  to  me,  wiping  the  perspiration  from 
his  brow  with  his  handkerchief,  "  I  wouldn't  have  missed 
this  for  anything.  I  only  wish  father  had  been  here.  I 
hope  that  young  lady  will  sing  again  before  we  part." 

"  I  think  it  very  likely,  and  that  the  fun  is  only  begun," 
replied  I.  "  But  come,  let's  lend  a  hand  to  get  the  prog 
out  of  the  boat." 


Jacob  Faithful  269 

"Pat!  Pat!  and  here's  a  marvellous  convenient  place 
for  our  rehearsal.  This  green  plot  shall  be  our  stage," 
cried  Quince,  addressing  the  others  of  the  party. 

The  locality  was  approved  of,  and  now  all  were  busy  in 
preparation.  The  hampers  were  unpacked,  and  cold  meats, 
poultry,  pies  of  various  kinds,  pastry,  &c.,  appeared  in 
abundance. 

"  This  is  no  manager's  feast,"  said  Tinfoil ;  **  the  fowls 
are  not  made  of  wood,  nor  is  small  beer  substituted  for 
wine.  Don  Juan's  banquet  to  the  Commendador  is  a 
farce  to  it." 

♦'  All  the  manager's  stage  banquets  are  farces,  and  very 
sorry  jokes  into  the  bargain,"  replied  another. 

"  I  wish  old  Morris  had  to  eat  his  own  suppers." 

"He  must  get  a  new  set  of  teeth,  or  they'll  prove  a 
deal  too  tough." 

"  Hiss  !  turn  him  out !  he's  made  z.punP 

The  hampers  were  now  emptied  j  some  laid  the  cloth 
upon  the  grass,  and  arranged  the  plates,  and  knives  and 
forks.  The  ladies  were  as  busy  as  the  gentlemen — some 
were  wiping  the  glasses,  others  putting  salt  into  the  salt- 
cellars. Titania  was  preparing  the  salad.  Mr  Winter- 
bottom,  who  was  doing  nothing,  accosted  her ;  "  May  I 
beg  as  a  favour  that  you  do  not  cut  the  salad  too  small  ? 
It  loses  much  of  its  crispness." 

"  Why,  what  a  Nebuchadnezzar  you  are !  However, 
sir,  you  shall  be  obeyed." 

"Who  can  fry  fish?"  cried  Tinfoil.  "Here  are  two 
pairs  of  soles  and  some  eels.     Where's  Caliban  ?  " 

"  Here  I  am,  sir,"  replied  the  man,  on  his  knees,  blow- 
ing up  a  fire  which  he  had  kindled.  "  I  have  got  the  soup 
to  mind." 

"Where's  Stephano?" 

"Cooling  the  wine,  sir." 

"  Who,  then,  can  fry  fish,  I  ask  .'"' 

"  I  can,  sir,"  replied  Tom  ;  "  but  not  without  butter." 

"Butter  shalt  thou  have,  thou  disturber  of  the  element. 
Have  we  not  Hiren  here  ?  " 


270  Jacob  Faithful 

"I  wasn't  hired  as  a  cook,  at  all  events,"  replied  Tom; 
''  but  I'm  rather  a  dab  at  it," 

"  Then  shalt  thou  have  the  place, ^^  replied  the  actor. 

"With  all  my  heart  and  soul,"  cried  Tom,  taking  out 
his  knife,  and  commencing  the  necessary  operation  of 
skinning  the  fish. 

In  half  an  hour  all  was  ready :  the  fair  Titania  did  me 
the  honour  to  seat  herself  upon  my  jacket,  to  ward  off 
any  damp  from  the  ground.  The  other  ladies  had  also 
taken  their  respective  seats,  as  allotted  by  the  mistress 
of  the  revels ;  the  table  was  covered  by  many  of  the 
good  things  of  this  life ;  the  soup  was  ready  in  a  tureen 
at  one  end,  and  Tom  had  just  placed  the  fish  on  the  table, 
while  Mr  Quince  and  Winterbottom,  by  the  commands  of 
Titania,  were  despatched  for  the  wine  and  other  varieties 
of  potations.  When  they  returned,  eyeing  one  another 
askance,  Winterbottom  looking  daggers  at  his  opponent, 
and  Quince  not  quite  easy,  even  under  the  protection  of 
Titania,  Tom  had  just  removed  the  frying-pan  from  the 
fire,  with  its  residuary  grease  still  bubbling.  Quince 
having  deposited  his  load,  was  about  to  sit  down,  when 
a  freak  came  into  Tom's  head,  which,  however,  he  dared 
not  put  into  execution  himself;  but  "a  nod  is  as  good  as 
a  wink  to  a  blind  horse,"  says  the  proverb,  Winterbottom 
stood  before  Tom,  and  Quince  with  his  back  to  them. 
Tom  looked  at  Winterbottom,  pointing  slily  to  the  frying- 
pan,  and  then  to  the  hinder  parts  of  Quince.  Winter- 
bottom  snatched  the  hint  and  the  frying-pan  at  the  same 
moment.  Quince  squatted  himself  down  with  a  surge, 
as  they  say  at  sea,  quoting  at  the  time — *'  Marry,  our 
play  is  the  most  lamentable  comedy,"  —  but  putting 
his  hands  behind  him  to  soften  his  fall,  they  were 
received  into  the  hot  frying-pan,  inserted  behind  him  by 
Winterbottom. . 

"Oh,  Lord!  oh!  oh!"  shrieked  Mr  Quince,  springing 
up  like  lightning,  bounding  in  the  air  with  the  pain,  his 
hands  behind  him  still  adhering  to  the  frying-pan. 

At  the  first  scream  of  Mr  Quince,  the  v.^hole  party  had 


Jacob  Faithful  271 

been  terrified ;  the  idea  was  that  a  snake  had  bitten  him, 
and  the  greatest  alarm  prevailed  •,  but  when  they  per- 
ceived the  cause  of  the  disaster,  even  his  expressions  of 
pain  could  not  prevent  their  mirth.  It  was  too  ludicrous. 
Still  the  gentlemen  and  ladies  condoled  with  him,  but  Mr 
Quince  was  not  to  be  reasoned  with.  He  walked  away  to 
the  river-side,  Mr  Winterbottom  slily  enjoying  his  revenge, 
for  no  one  but  Tom  had  an  idea  that  it  was  anything  but 
an  accident.  Mr  Quince's  party  of  pleasure  was  spoiled, 
but  the  others  did  not  think  it  necessary  that  theirs  should 
be  also.  A  "  really  very  sorry  for  poor  Western,"  and  a 
half  dozen  "  poor  fellows  ! "  intermingled  with  tittering, 
was  all  that  his  misfortunes  called  forth  after  his  depar- 
ture j  and  then  they  set  to  like  French  falconers.  The 
soup  was  swallowed,  the  fish  disappeared,  joints  were  cut 
up,  pies  delivered  up  their  hidden  treasures,  fowls  were 
dismembered  like  rotten  boroughs,  corks  were  drawn, 
others  flew  without  the  trouble,  and  they  did  eat  and 
were  filled.  Mr  Winterbottom  kept  his  eye  upon  the 
salad,  his  favourite  condiment,  mixed  it  himself,  offered 
it  to  all,  and  was  glad  to  find  that  no  one  would  spare 
time  to  eat  it ;  but  Mr  Winterbottom  could  eat  for  every- 
body, and  he  did  eat.  The  fragments  were  cleared  away, 
and  handed  over  to  us.  We  were  very  busy,  doing  as 
ample  justice  to  them  as  the  party  had  done  before  us, 
when  Mr  Winterbottom  was  observed  to  turn  very  pale, 
and  appeared  very  uneasy. 

"What's  the  matter?"  inquired  Mr  Tinfoil. 

"  I'm — I'm  not  very  well — I — I'm  afraid  something  has  dis- 
agreed with  me.  I — I'm  very  ill,"  exclaimed  Mr  Winter- 
bottom,  turning  as  white  as  a  sheet,  and  screwing  up  his 
mouth. 

"  It  must  be  the  salad,"  said  one  of  the  ladies ;  "  no  one 
has  eaten  it  but  yourself,  and  we  are  all  well." 

"I — rather  think — it  must  be — oh — I  do  recollect  that 
I  thought  the  oil  had  a  queer  taste." 

"  Why  there  was  no  oil  in  the  castors,"  replied  Tinfoil. 
"I  desired  Jenkins  to  get  some." 


272  Jacob  Faithful 

"  So  did  I,  particularly,"  replied  Winterbottom.  *'  Oh  ! 
— oh,  dear — oh,  dear  !  " 

"Jenkins,"  cried  Tinfoil,  ** where  did  you  get  the  oil 
for  the  castors  ?  What  oil  did  you  get  ? — are  you  sure 
it  was  right  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,  quite  sure,"  replied  Jenkins.  "  I  brought 
it  here  in  a  bottle,  and  put  it  into  the  castors  before 
dinner." 

"  Where  did  you  buy  it  ? " 

**  At  the  chemist's,  sir.  Here's  the  bottle  j "  and 
Jenkins  produced  a  bottle  with  castor  oil  in  large  letters 
labelled  on  the  side. 

The  murder  was  out.  Mr  Winterbottom  groaned, 
rose  from  his  seat,  for  he  felt  very  sick  indeed.  The 
misfortunes  of  individuals  generally  add  to  the  general 
quota  of  mirth,  and  Mr  Winterbottom's  misfortune  had 
the  same  effect  as  that  of  Mr  Quince.  But  where  was 
poor  Mr  Quince  all  this  time .''  He  had  sent  for  the  iron 
kettle  in  which  the  soup  had  been  warmed  up,  and  filling 
it  full  of  Thames  water,  had  immersed  the  afflicted  parts 
in  the  cooling  element.  There  he  sat  with  his  hands 
plunged  deep,  when  Mr  Winterbottom  made  his  appear- 
ance at  the  same  spot,  and  Mr  Quince  was  comforted 
by  witnessing  the  state  of  his  enemy.  Indeed,  the  sight 
of  Winterbottom's  distress  did  more  to  soothe  Mr 
Quince's  pain,  than  all  the  Thames  water  in  the  world. 
He  rose,  and  leaving  Winterbottom,  with  his  two  hands 
to  his  head,  leaning  against  a  tree,  joined  the  party,  and 
pledged  the  ladies  in  succession,  till  he  was  more  than 
half  tipsy. 

In  the  space  of  half  an  hour  Mr  Winterbottom  returned, 
trembling  and  shivering  as  if  he  had  been  suffering  under 
an  ague.  A  bumper  or  two  of  brandy  restored  him,  and 
before  the  day  closed  in,  both  Winterbottom  and  Quince, 
one  applying  stimulants  to  his  stomach,  and  the  other 
drowning  his  sense  of  pain  in  repeated  libations,  were 
in  a  state  (to  say  the  least  of  it)  of  incipient  intoxication. 
But   there  is  a  time   for  all   things,  and  it   was   time   to 


Jacob  Faithful  273 

return.  The  evening  had  passed  freely;  song  had 
followed  song.  Tinfoil  had  tried  his  bugle,  and  played 
not  a  little  out  of  tune ;  the  flute  also  neglected  the  flats 
and  sharps  as  of  no  consequence ;  the  ladies  thought  the 
gentlemen  rather  too  forward,  and,  in  short,  it  was  time 
to  break  up  the  party.  The  hampers  were  repacked,  and 
handed,  half  empty,  into  the  boat.  Of  wine  there  was 
little  left ;  and,  by  the  directions  of  Titania,  the  plates, 
dishes,  &c.,  only  were  to  be  returned,  and  the  fragments 
divided  among  the  boatmen.  The  company  re-embarked 
in  high  spirits,  and  we  had  the  ebb-tide  to  return  with. 
Just  as  we  were  shoving  off,  it  was  remembered  that  the 
ice-pail  had  been  left  under  the  tree,  besides  a  basket 
with  sundries.  The  other  wherries  had  shoved  ofl",  and 
they  were  in  consequence  brought  into  our  boat,  in  which 
we  had  the  same  company  as  before,  with  the  exception 
of  Mr  Western,  alias  Quince,  who  preferred  the  boat 
which  carried  the  hampers,  that  he  might  loll  over  the 
side,  with  his  hands  in  the  water.  Mr  Winterbottom 
soon  showed  the  effects  of  the  remedy  he  had  taken 
against  the  effects  of  the  castor  oil.  He  was  uproarious, 
and  it  was  with  difficulty  that  he  could  be  persuaded  to 
sit  still  in  the  boat,  much  to  the  alarm  of  Titania  and 
the  other  ladies.  He  would  make  violent  love  to  the 
fairy  queen ;  and  as  he  constantly  shifted  his  position  to 
address  her  and  throw  himself  at  her  feet,  there  was  some 
danger  of  the  boat  being  upset.  At  last  Tom  proposed  to 
him  to  sit  on  the  pail  before  her,  as  then  he  could  address 
her  with  safety ;  and  Winterbottom  staggered  up  to  take 
the  seat.  As  he  was  seating  himself,  Tom  took  off"  the 
cover,  so  that  he  was  plunged  into  the  half-liquid  ice ;  but 
Mr  Winterbottom  was  too  drunk  to  perceive  it.  He  con- 
tinued to  rant  and  to  rave,  and  protest  and  vow,  and  even 
spout  for  some  time,  when  suddenly  the  quantity  of  caloric 
extracted  from  him  produced  its  effect. 

"I — I — really  believe  that  the  night  is  damp — the  dew 
falls — the  seat  is  damp,  fair  Titania." 

"It's  only  fancy,  Mr  Winterbottom,"  replied  Titania, 
J.F.  s 


274  Jacob  Faithful 

who  was  delighted  with  his  situation.  '*  Jean  trousers  are 
cool  in  the  evening ;  it's  only  an  excuse  to  get  away  from 
me,  and  I  never  will  speak  again  to  you,  if  you  quit  your 
seat." 

"  The  fair  Titania,  the  mistress  of  my  soul — and  body 
too,  if  she  pleases — has — but  to  command — and  her  slave 
obeys." 

"  I  rather  think  it  is  a  little  damp,"  said  Tinfoil ;  "  allow 
me  to  throw  a  little  sand  upon  your  seat ; "  and  Tinfoil 
pulled  out  a  large  paper  bag  full  of  salt,  which  he  strewed 
over  the  ice. 

Winterbottom  was  satisfied,  and  remained ;  but  by  the 
time  we  had  reached  Vauxhall  Bridge,  the  refrigeration 
had  become  so  complete  that  he  was  fixed  on  the  ice, 
which  the  application  of  the  salt  had  made  solid.  He 
complained  of  cold,  shivered,  attempted  to  rise,  but 
could  not  extricate  himself;  at  last  his  teeth  chattered,  and 
he  became  almost  sober ;  but  he  was  helpless  from  the 
effects  of  the  castor  oil,  his  intermediate  intoxication,  and 
his  present  state  of  numbness.  He  spoke  less  and  less  ;  at 
last  he  was  silent,  and  when  we  arrived  at  Whitehall  stairs, 
he  was  firmly  fixed  on  the  ice.  When  released  he  could 
not  walk,  and  he  was  sent  home  in  a  hackney  coach. 

"  It  was  cruel  to  punish  him  so,  Mr  Tinfoil,"  said  Titania. 

"  Cruel  punishment.  Why,  yes  j  a  sort  of  impailment ^'* 
replied  Mr  Tinfoil,  offering  his  arm. 

The  remainder  of  the  party  landed  and  walked  home, 
followed  by  the  two  assistants,  who  took  charge  of  the 
crockery ;  and  thus  ended  the  picnic  party,  which,  as  Tom 
said,  was  the  very  funniest  day  he  had  ever  spent  in  his 
life. 


Jacob  Faithful  275 


Chapter  XXIX 

Mr  TurnbuU  "  sets  his  house  in  order  " — Mrs  T.  thinks  such  conduct  very 
disorderly — the  captain  at  his  old  tricks  with  his  harpoon — He  pays  his 
lady's  debts  of  honour,  and  gives  the  applicant  a  quittance  under  his  own 
foot — Monsieur  and  Madame  Tagliabue  withdraw  from  the  society  of 
"  ces  Barbares  les  Anglais." 

It  was  on  the  Sunday  after  the  picnic  party,  when,  feehng 
I  had  neglected  Captain  Turnbull,  and  that  he  would 
think  it  unkind  of  me  not  to  go  near  him,  after  having  ac- 
companied Mary  to  church,  I  set  off  on  foot  to  his  villa 
near  Brentford.  I  rang  at  the  porter's  lodge,  and  asked 
whether  he  was  at  home. 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  the  old  woman  at  the  lodge,  who 
was  very  communicative,  and  very  friendly  with  me  j  **  and 
missus  be  at  home  too." 

I  walked  up  the  carriage-drive  of  one  hundred  yards, 
which  led  to  the  entrance  door ;  and  when  I  rang,  it  was 
opened  by  a  servant  I  had  not  seen  before  as  belonging  to 
the  establishment.    *'  Where  is  Mr  Turnbull  ?"  inquired  I. 

"He  is  in  his  own  room,  sir,"  replied  the  man;  "but 
you  must  send  up  your  name,  if  you  please,  as  every  one  is 
not  admitted." 

I  must  observe  to  the  reader  that  I  was  not  dressed  in 
jacket  and  trousers.  The  money  I  earned  was  more  than 
sufficient  to  supply  all  my  expenses,  and  I  had  fitted  on 
what  are  called  at  sea,  and  on  the  river,  long  togs ;  i.e.,  I 
was  dressed  as  most  people  are  on  shore.  The  servant 
evidently  took  me  for  a  gentleman ;  and  perhaps,  as  far  as 
dress  went,  I  was  entitled  to  that  distinction.  Many 
people  are  received  as  such  in  this  world  with  less  claims 
than  I  had.  I  gave  my  name  j  the  man  left  me  at  the 
door,  and  soon  returned,  requesting  that  I  would  follow 
him.  I  must  say  that  I  was  rather  astonished ;  where 
were  Mr  Mortimer,  and  the  two  men  in  flaunting  liveries, 
and  long  cotton  epaulettes  with  things  like  little  marline- 
spikes  hanging  to  the  ends  of  them  ?     Even  the  livery  was 


276  Jacob  Faithful 

changed,  being  a  plain  brown  coat,  with  light  blue  collar  and 
cuffs.  I  was,  however,  soon  made  acquainted  with  what  had 
taken  place,  on  my  entering  the  apartment  of  Mr  Turnbull, 
— his  study,  as  Mrs  T.  called  it,  although  Mr  Turnbull 
insisted  upon  calling  it  his  cabin,  a  name  certainly  more 
appropriate,  as  it  contained  but  two  small  shelves  of  books, 
the  remainder  of  the  space  being  filled  up  with  favourite 
harpoons,  porpoise'  skulls,  sharks'  jaws,  corals,  several 
bears'  skins,  brown  and  white,  and  one  or  two  models  of 
the  vessels  which  had  belonged  to  his  brother  and  himself, 
and  which  had  been  employed  in  the  Greenland  fishery. 
It  was,  in  fact,  a  sort  of  museum  of  all  he  had  collected 
during  his  voyages.  Esquimaux  implements,  ornaments, 
and  dresses,  were  lying  about  in  corners ;  and  skins  of  rare 
animals,  killed  by  himself,  such  as  black  foxes,  &c.,  were 
scattered  about  the  carpet.  His  sea-chest,  full  of  various 
articles,  was  also  one  of  the  ornaments  of  the  room,  much 
to  the  annoyance  of  Mrs  T.,  who  had  frequently  exerted 
her  influence  to  get  rid  of  it,  but  in  vain.  The  only  articles 
of  furniture  were  two  sofas,  a  large  table  in  the  centre,  and 
three  or  four  heavy  chairs.  The  only  attempt  at  adornment 
consisted  in  a  dozen  coloured  engravings,  framed  and 
glazed,  of  walrus  shooting,  &c.,  taken  from  the  folio 
works  of  Captains  Cook  and  Mulgrave  j  and  a  sketch  or 
two  by  his  brother,  such  as  the  state  of  the  William  pressed 
by  an  iceberg  on  the  morning  of  the  25th  of  January, 
lat. — ,  long. — . 

Captain  T.  was  in  his  morning-gown,  evidently  not 
very  well,  at  least  he  appeared  harassed  and  pale.  "  My 
dear  Jacob,  this  is  very  kind  of  you.  I  did  mean  to  scold 
you  for  not  coming  before ;  but  I'm  too  glad  to  see  you  to 
find  the  heart  now.  But  why  have  you  kept  away  so  long  ? " 
"I  have  really  been  very  well  employed,  sir:  Stapleton 
has  given  me  up  the  wherry,  and  I  could  not  neglect  his 
interests,  even  if  I  did  my  own." 

*'  Always  right,  boy  ;  and  how  are  you  getting  on  ? " 

*'  I  am  very  happy,  sir,  very  happy,  indeed." 

"  I'm   glad   to  hear  it,  Jacob ;  may  you  always  be  so. 


Jacob  Faithful  277 

Now,  take  the  other  sofa,  and  let  us  have  a  long  palaver, 
as  the  Indians  say.  I  have  something  to  tell  you.  I 
suppose  you  observed  a  change — heh  ? " 

*' Yes,  sir;  I  observed  that  Mr  Mortimer  was  not 
visible." 

"  Exactly.  Well,  Mr  Mortimer,  or  John  Snobbs,  the 
rascal  is  at  present  in  Newgate  for  trial ;  and  I  mean  to 
send  him  out  on  a  voyage  for  the  good  of  his  health.  I 
caught  the  scoundrel  at  last,  and  I'll  show  him  no  more 
mercy  than  I  would  to  a  shark  that  has  taken  the  bait. 
But  that's  not  all.  "We  have  had  a  regular  mutiny,  and 
attempt  to  take  the  ship  from  me  :  but  I  have  them  all  in 
irons,  and  ordered  for  punishment.  Jacob,  money  is  but 
too  often  a  curse,  depend  upon  it." 

**  You'll  not  find  many  of  your  opinion,  sir,"  replied  I, 
laughing. 

"Perhaps  not;  because  those  who  have  it  are  content 
with  the  importance  which  it  gives  to  them,  and  won't 
allow  the  damnable  fact ;  and  because  those  who  have  it  not 
are  always  sighing  after  it,  as  if  it  were  the  only  thing  worth 
looking  after  in  this  world.  But  now,  I  will  just  tell  you 
what  has  happened  since  I  last  saw  you,  and  then  you  shall 
judge." 

As,  however.  Captain  T.'s  narrative  ran  to  a  length  of 
nearly  three  hours,  I  shall  condense  the  matter  for  the 
information  of  the  reader.  It  appeared  that  Mrs  T.  had 
continued  to  increase  the  lengths  of  her  drives  in  her 
carriage,  the  number  of  her  acquaintances,  and  her  manifold 
expenses,  until  Mr  T.  had  remonstrated  in  very  strong 
terms.  His  remonstrances  did  not,  however,  meet  with 
the  attention  which  he  had  expected :  and  he  found  out 
by  accident,  moreover,  that  the  money  with  which  he  had 
constantly  supplied  Mrs  T.,  to  defray  her  weekly  bills, 
had  been  otherwise  appropriated ;  and  that  the  bills  for 
the  two  last  quarters  had  none  of  them  been  paid.  This 
produced  an  altercation,  and  a  desire  on  his  part  to  know 
in  what  manner  these  sums  had  been  disbursed.  At  first 
the  only  reply  from  Mrs  T.,  who  considered  it  advisable 


278  Jacob  Faithful 

to  brazen  it  out,  and,  if  possible  gain  the  ascendancy  which 
was  necessary,  was  a  contemptuous  toss  of  her  head,  which 
undulated  the  three  yellow  ostrich  feathers  in  her  bonnet, 
as  she  walked  out  of  the  room  and  entered  her  carriage. 
This,  to  Mr  T.,  who  was  a  matter-of-fact  man,  was  not 
very  satisfactory ;  he  waited  per  force  until  the  carriage 
returned,  and  then  demanded  an  explicit  answer.  Mrs  T. 
assumed  the  highest  ground,  talked  about  fashionable 
expenses,  her  knowledge  of  what  was  due  to  his  character, 
&c.  Mr  T.  rejoined  about  necessary  expenses,  and  that  it 
was  due  to  his  character  to  pay  his  tradesmen's  bills.  Mrs 
T.  then  talked  of  good  breeding,  best  society,  and  her 
many  plaisers,  as  she  termed  them.  Mr  T.  did  not  know 
what  many  pleasures  meant  in  French ;  but  he  thought  she 
had  been  indulged  in  as  many  as  most  women,  since  they 
had  come  down  to  this  establishment.  But  to  the 
question :  why  were  not  the  bills  paid,  and  what 
had  she  done  with  the  money  ?  Spent  it  in  pin 
money.  Pin  money  !  thirty  pounds  a  week  in  pins  I  it  would 
have  bought  harpoons  enough  for  a  three  years'  voyage. 
She  must  tell  the  truth.  She  wouldn't  tell  anything,  but 
called  for  her  salts,  and  called  him  a  brute.  At  all  events, 
he  wouldn't  be  called  a  fool.  He  gave  her  till  the  next 
morning  to  consider  of  it.  The  next  morning  the  bills 
were  all  sent  in  as  requested,  and  amounted  to  six  hundred 
pounds.  They  were  paid  and  receipted.  "Now,  Mrs  T., 
will  you  oblige  me  by  letting  me  know  what  you  have  done 
with  this  six  hundred  pounds  ? "  Mrs  T.  would  not — she 
was  not  to  be  treated  in  that  manner.  Mr  T.  was  not  on 
board  a  whaler  now,  to  bully  and  frighten  as  he  pleased. 
She  would  have  justice  done  her.  Have  a  separation,  /6ali- 
mony,  and  a  divorce.  She  might  have  them  all  if  she 
pleased,  but  she  should  have  no  more  money ;  that  was 
certain.  Then  she  would  have  a  fit  of  hysterics.  So  she 
did,  and  lay  the  whole  of  the  day  on  the  sofa,  expecting 
Mr  T.  would  pick  her  up.  But  the  idea  never  came  into 
Mr  T.'s  head.  He  went  to  bed ;  and  feeling  restless,  he 
rose  very  early,  and  saw  from  his  window  a  cart  drive  up 


Jacob  Faithful  279 

to  the  wall,  and  the  parties  who  came  with  it  leap  over  and 
enter  the  house,  and  return  carrying  to  it  two  large  ham- 
pers. He  snatched  up  one  of  his  harpoons,  walked  out  the 
other  way,  and  arrived  at  the  cart  just  as  the  hampers  had 
been  put  in,  and  they  were  about  to  drive  off;  challenged 
them,  and  instead  of  being  answered,  the  horse  was  flogged, 
and  he  nearly  run  over.  He  then  let  fly  his  harpoon 
into  the  horse,  which  dropped,  and  pitched  out  the  two 
men  on  their  heads  insensible ;  secured  them,  called  to  the 
lodge  for  assistance,  sent  for  constables,  and  gave  them  in 
charge.  They  proved  to  be  hampers  forwarded  by  Mr 
Mortimer,  who  had  been  in  the  habit  of  so  doing  for  some 
time.  These  hampers  contained  his  best  wine,  and  various 
other  articles,  which  also  proved  that  Mr  Mortimer  must 
have  had  false  keys.  Leaving  the  culprits  and  property  in 
charge  of  two  constables,  Mr  T.  returned  to  the  house  in 
company  with  the  third  constable  ;  the  door  was  opened  by 
Mr  Mortimer,  who  followed  him  into  his  study,  told  him 
he  should  leave  the  house  directly,  had  always  lived  with 
gentlemen  before,  and  requested  that  he  might  have  what 
was  due  to  him.  Mr  T.  thought  the  request  but  reasonable 
and  therefore  gave  him  in  charge  of  the  constable.  Mr 
Snobbs,  rather  confounded  at  such  ungentlemanly  behaviour, 
was,  with  the  others,  marched  off  to  Bow  Street.  Mr  T. 
sends  for  the  other  two  servants  in  livery,  and  assures  them 
that  he  has  no  longer  any  occasion  for  their  services,  having 
the  excessive  vulgar  idea  that  this  peculation  must  have 
been  known  to  them.  Pays  them  their  wages,  requests 
they  will  take  off  their  liveries,  and  leave  the  house.  Both 
willing.  They  also  had  always  lived  with  gentlemen  before. 
Mr  T.  takes  the  key  of  the  butler's  pantry,  that  the  plate 
may  not  consider  him  too  vulgar  to  remain  in  the  house,  and 
then  walks  to  the  stables.  Horses  neigh,  as  if  to  say  they 
are  all  ready  for  their  breakfasts ;  but  the  door  locked. 
Hails  the  coachman,  no  answer.  Returning  from  the 
stables,  perceives  coachee,  rather  dusty,  coming  in  at  the 
lodge  gate ;  requests  to  know  why  he  did  not  sleep  at  home 
and  take  care  of  his  horses.     He  was  missus's  coachman. 


2  8o  Jacob  Faithful 

not  master's,  and  could  satisfy  her,  but  could  not  satisfy 
Mr  T. ;  who  paid  him  his  wages,  and,  deducting  his 
liveries,  sent  him  after  the  others.  Coachee  also  was  very 
glad  to  go — had  always  lived  with  gentlemen  before.  Meets 
the  lady's  maid,  who  tells  him  Mrs  T.  is  much  too  ill 
to  come  down  to  breakfast.  Rather  fortunate,  as  there 
was  no  breakfast  to  be  had.  Dresses  himself,  gets  into 
a  pair-horse  coach,  arrives  at  the  White  Horse  Cellar, 
swallows  his  breakfast,  goes  to  Bow  Street,  commits 
Mr  Mortimer  alias  Snobbs,  and  his  confederates  for  trial. 
Hires  a  job  man  to  bring  the  horses  up  for  sale,  and  leaves 
his  carriage  at  the  coachmakers.  Obtains  a  temporary 
footman,  and  then  Mr  T.  returns  to  his  villa.  A  very  good 
morning's  work.  Finds  Mrs  T.  up  in  the  parlour,  very 
much  surprised  and  shocked  at  his  conduct — at  no  Mr 
Mortimer — at  no  servants,  and  indebted  to  her  own  maid 
for  a  cup  of  tea.  More  recriminations — more  violence — 
another  threat  of  /^alimony,  and  the  carriage  ordered,  that 
she  may  seek  counsel.  No  coachman — no  carriage — no 
horses — no  nothing,  as  her  maid  declares.  Mrs  T.  locks 
herself  up  in  her  room,  and  another  day  is  passed  with  as 
little  matrimonial  comfort  as  can  be  expected. 

In  the  meantime  the  news  flies  in  every  direction. 
Brentford  is  full  of  it.  Mr  T.  had  been  living  too  fast — is 
done  up — had  been  had  up  at  Bow  Street — creditors  had 
poured  in  with  bills — servants  discharged — carriage  and 
horses  seized.  Mrs  T.,  poor  creature,  in  hysterics,  and — 
nobody  surprised  at  it ;  indeed,  everybody  expected  it.  The 
Peters  of  Petercumb  Hall  heard  it,  and  shook  their  heads 
at  the  many  upstarts  there  were  in  the  world.  Mr  Smith 
requested  the  Right  Honourable  Lord  Viscount  Babbleton 
never  to  mention  to  his  father  the  Right  Honourable 
Marquis  of  Spring-guns,  that  he  had  ever  been  taken  to  see 
the  Turnbulls,  or  that  he,  Mr  Smith,  would  infallibly  lose 
his  situation  in  esse,  and  his  living  in  posse:  and  Monsieur 
and  Madame  Tagliabue  were  even  more  astounded ;  but 
they  felt  deeply,  and  resolved  to  pay  a  visit  the  next  morn- 
ing, at  least  Monsieur  Tagliabue  did,  and  Madame 
acknowledged  to  the  propriety  of  it. 


Jacob  Faithful  281 

The  next  morning  some  little  order  had  been  restored  ; 
the  footman  hired  had  been  given  in  charge  of  a  sufficient 
quantity  of  plate,  the  rest  had  been  locked  up.  The  cook 
was  to  stay  her  month ;  the  housemaid  had  no  wish  to 
leave  ;  and  as  for  the  lady's  maid,  she  would  remain  as 
long  as  she  could,  to  console  her  poor  mistress,  and  accept 
what  she  was  inclined  to  give  her  in  return,  in  the  way  of 
clothes,  dresses,  &c.,  although,  of  course,  she  could  not 
hurt  her  character  by  remaining  too  long  in  a  family  where 
there  was  no  carriage,  or  gentleman  out  of  livery.  Still 
Mr  T.  did  obtain  some  breakfast,  and  had  just  finished 
it  when  Monsieur  Tagliabue  was  announced,  and  was 
received. 

*'  Ah  !  Monsieur  T.,  I  hope  Madame  is  better.  Madame 
Tagliabue  did  noting  but  cry  all  last  night  when  she 
heard  the  very  bad  news  about  de  debt,  and  all  dat." 

"Very  much  obliged  to  Madame,"  replied  Turnbull, 
gruffly  ;  "  and  now,  pray  sir,  what  may  be  your 
pleasure  ? " 

"  Ah !  Monsieur  Turnbull,  I  feel  very  much  for  you  -, 
but  suppose  a  gentleman  no  lose  his  honour,  what  matter  de 
money?"  (Mr  Turnbull  stared.)  "You  see.  Monsieur 
Turnbull,  honour  be  every  thing  to  a  gentleman.  If  a 
gentleman  owe  money  to  one  rascally  trades-fellow,  and  not 
pay  him,  dat  no  great  matter  ;  but  he  always  pay  de  debt 
of  honour.  Every  gentleman  pay  dat.  Here,  Monsieur 
Turnbull"  (and  the  little  Frenchman  pulled  out  a  piece 
of  paper  from  his  pocket),  "  be  a  leetle  note  of  Madame 
Tnrnbull,  which  she  gave  to  Madame  Tagliabue,  in  which 
she  acknowledged  she  owe  two  hundred  pounds  for  money 
lost  at  ecarte.  Dat  you  see.  Monsieur  Turnbull,  be  what 
gentlemen  call  debt  of  honour,  which  every  gentleman  pay, 
or  else  he  lose  de  character,  and  be  called  one  blackguard 
by  all  de  world.  Madame  Tagliabue  and  I  too  much  fond 
of  you  and  Madame  Turnbull  not  to  save  your  character, 
and  so  I  come  by  her  wish  to  beg  you  to  settle  this  leetle 
note — this  leetle  debt  of  honour ; "  and  Monsieur  Tagliabue 
laid  the  note  on  the  table,  with  a  very  polite  bow. 


282  Jacob  Faithful 

Mr  TurnbuU  examined  the  note ;  it  was  as  described 
by  Monsieur  Tagliabue.  So,  thought  he,  now  the  whole 
story's  out  ;  she  has  been  swindled  out  of  her  money  by 
this  rascally  French  couple.  "  Now,  Monsieur  Tagliabue," 
said  he,  *'  allow  me  to  put  a  question  or  two,  before  I  pay 
this  money  ;  and  if  you  answer  me  sincerely,  I  shall  raise 
no  objection.  I  think  Mrs  T.  has  already  lost  about  six 
hundred  pounds  at  ecarte  before  ? "  (Monsieur  T.,  who 
presumed  that  Mrs  Turnbull  had  made  him  acquainted 
with  the  fact,  answered  in  the  affirmative.)  "  And  I  think 
that  two  months  ago  she  never  knew  what  ecarte  was." 

"  Dat  is  true  ;  but  the  ladies  are  very  quick  to  learn." 

"Well,  but  now,  do  you  think  that,  as  she  knew 
nothing  about  the  game,  and  you  and  your  wife  are  well 
acquainted  with  it,  it  was  honourable  on  your  part  to  allow 
her  to  lose  so  much  money  ? " 

*'  Ah !  Monsieur,  when  a  lady  say  she  will  play,  com- 
ment faire,  what  can  you  do  ?  " 

"  But  why  did  you  never  play  at  this  house.  Monsieur 
Tagliabue  ? " 

"  Ah  !  Monsieur  Turnbull,  it  is  for  de  lady  of  de  house 
to  propose  de  game." 

"  Very  true,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull,  writing  a  cheque  for 
the  two  hundred  pounds  :  *'  there  is  your  money,  Mr 
Tagliabue  -,  and  now  that  you  are  paid,  allow  me  to 
observe  that  I  consider  you  and  your  wife  a  couple  of 
swindlers  ;  and  beg  that  you  will  never  enter  my  doors 
again." 

"Vat  you  say,  sar  ?  Sivind-lare  I  God  dam!  Sar,  I 
will  have  satisfaction." 

"  You've  got  your  money — is  that  sufficient,  or  do  you 
want  anything  else } "  replied  Mr  T.,  rising  from  his 
chair. 

"  Yes,  sar,  I  do  want  more — I  will  have  more." 

"  So  you  shall,  then,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull,  kicking  him 
out  of  the  room,  along  the  passage  and  out  of  the  front 
door. 

Monsieur  Tagliabue  turned  round  every  now  and  then, 


Jacob  Faithful  283 

and  threatened,  and  then  tried  to  escape,  as  he  perceived 
the  upraised  boot  of  Mr  TurnbuU.  When  fairly  out  ot 
the  house,  he  turned  round,  "  Monsieur  Turnbull,  I  will 
have  de  satisfaction,  de  terrible  satisfaction,  for  this.  You 
shall  pay.  By  God,  sar,  you  shall  pay, — de  money  for 
this." 

That  evening  Mr  Turnbull  was  summoned  to  appear  at 
Bow  Street  on  the  following  morning  for  the  assault.  He 
met  Monsieur  Tagliabue  with  his  lawyer,  and  acknowledged 
that  he  had  kicked  him  out  of  his  house  for  swindling  his 
wife,  refused  all  accommodation,  and  was  prepared  with 
his  bail.  Monsieur  Tagliabue  stormed  and  blustered, 
talked  about  his  acquaintance  with  the  nobility ;  but  the 
magistrate  had  seen  too  much  of  foreigners  to  place  much 
reliance  on  their  asseverations.     "  Who  are  you,  monsieur  ?" 

"  Sar,  I  am  a  gentleman," 

"  What  profession  are  you  of,  sir  ? " 

"  Sar,  a  gentleman  has  no  profession." 

"  But  how  do  you  live.  Monsieur  Tagliabue  ? " 

"  As  a  gentleman  always  does,  sar." 

"  You  mentioned  Lord  Scrope  just  now  as  your  partic- 
ular friend,  I  think  ? " 

"  Yes,  sar,  me  very  intimate  with  Lord  Scrope ;  me 
spend  three  months  at  Scrope  Castle  with  mi  Lady  Scrope  ; 
mi  Lady  Scrope  very  fond  of  Madame  Tagliabue." 

"Very  well.  Monsieur  Tagliabue;  we  must  proceed 
with  another  case  until  Mr  Turnbull's  bail  arrives.  Sit 
down  for  a  little  while,  if  you  please." 

Another  case  was  then  heard,  which  lasted  about  half 
an  hour ;  but  previous  to  hearing  it,  the  magistrate,  who 
knew  that  Lord  Scrope  was  in  town,  had  despatched  a 
runner  with  a  note  to  his  lordship,  and  the  answer  was 
now  brought  back.  The  magistrate  read  it,  and  smiled ; 
went  on  with  the  other  case,  and  when  it  was  finished, 
said,  "Now,  M.  Tagliabue,  you  have  said  that  you  were 
intimate  with  Lord  Scrope." 

"  Yes,  sar,  very  intimate." 

"Well,  Lord  Scrope  I  have  the  pleasure  of  knowing; 


284  Jacob  Faithful 

and,  as  he  is  in  town,  T  wrote  a  note  to  him,  and  here 
is  his  answer.     I  will  read  it." 

M.  Tagliabue  turned  pale  as  the  magistrate  read  the 
following : — 

**  Dear  Sir, — A  fellow  of  the  name  you  mention  came 
from  Russia  with  me,  as  my  valet.  I  discharged  him 
for  dishonesty ;  after  he  left,  Lady  Scrope's  attendant, 
who  it  appeared  was,  unknown  to  us,  married  to  him, 
left  also,  and  then  I  discovered  their  peculations  to  have 
been  so  extensive  that  had  we  known  where  to  have 
laid  hold  of  him,  I  should  certainly  have  brought  them 
before  you.  Now  the  affair  is  forgotten*,  but  a  greater 
scoundrel  never  existed.  "  Yours,  Scrope." 

"Now,  sir,  what  have  you  to  say  for  yourself?"  con- 
tinued the  magistrate  in  a  severe  tone.  M.  Tagliabue 
fell  on  his  knees,  and  begged  for  mercy  from  the  magis- 
trate, from  Lord  Scrope,  and,  lastly,  from  Mr  Turnbull, 
to  whom  he  proffered  the  draft  for  ^200.  The  magistrate, 
seeing  that  Mr  Turnbull  did  not  take  it,  said  to  him, 
"  Make  no  ceremony  of  taking  your  money  back  again, 
Mr  Turnbull;  the  very  offer  of  it  proves  that  he  has 
gained  it  dishonestly ;  and  ^600  are  quite  enough  to  have 
lost."  Mr  Turnbull  then  took  the  cheque  and  tore  it 
in  pieces,  and  the  magistrate  ordered  M.  Tagliabue  to 
be  taken  to  the  alien  office,  and  he  was  sent  to  the  other 
side  of  the  Channel,  in  company  with  his  wife,  to  play 
ecarte  with  whomsoever  he  pleased.  Thus  ended  this 
episode  of  Monsieur  Tagliabue. 


Chapter  XXX 

Mr  Turnbull  finds  out  that  money,  although  a  necessary  evil,  is  not  a  source 
of  happiness — The  Domine  finds  out  that  a  little  calumny  is  more 
effectual  than  Ovid's  remedy  for  love ;  and  I  find  out  that  walking  gives 
one  a  good  appetite  for  fillet  of  veal  and  bacon — I  set  an  example  to  the 
clergy  in  refusing  to  take  money  for  a  seat  in  church. 

**  And  now  you  see,  Jacob,  what  a  revolution  has  taken 
place  J  not  very  pleasant,  I  grant,  but  still  it  was   very 


Jacob  Faithful  285 

necessary.  I  have  since  been  paying  all  my  bills,  for  the 
report  of  my  being  in  difficulty  has  brought  them  in  fast 
enough  •,  and  I  find  that  in  these  last  five  months  my  wife 
has  spent  a  whole  year's  income ;  so  it  was  quite  time 
to  stop." 

"  I  agree  with  you,  sir ;  but  what  does  Mrs  Turnbull 
say  now — has  she  come  to  her  senses  ?  " 

"Pretty  well,  I  expect,  although  she  does  not  quite 
choose  to  acknowledge  it.  I  have  told  her  that  she  must 
dispense  with  a  carriage  in  future ;  and  so  she  shall,  till 
I  think  she  deserves  it.  She  knows  that  she  must  either 
have  my  company  in  the  house,  or  none  at  all.  She  knows 
that  the  Peters  of  Petercumb  Hall  have  cut  her,  for  they 
did  not  answer  a  note  of  hers,  sent  by  the  gardener ;  and 
Mr  Smith  has  written  a  very  violent  answer  to  another  of 
her  notes,  wondering  at  her  attempting  to  push  herself 
into  the  company  of  the  aristocracy.  But  what  has 
brought  her  to  her  senses  more  than  all,  is  the  affair  of 
Monsieur  Tagliabue.  The  magistrate,  at  my  request, 
gave  me  the  note  of  Lord  Scrope,  and  I  have  taken  good 
care  that  she  should  read  the  police  report  as  well ; 
but  the  fact  is,  she  is  so  much  mortified,  that  I  say 
nothing  to  her.  She  has  been  following  the  advice 
of  these  French  swindlers,  who  have  led  her  wrong, 
to  be  able  to  cheat  her  of  her  money.  I  expect  she 
will  ask  me  to  sell  this  place,  and  go  elsewhere ;  but 
at  present  we  hardly  exchange  a  word  during  the  whole 
day." 

**  I  feel  very  sorry  for  her,  sir ;  for  I  really  believe  her 
to  be  a  very  good,  kind-hearted  person." 

"That's  like  you,  Jacob — and  so  she  is.  At  present 
she  is  in  a  state  to  be  pitied.  She  would  throw  a  share 
of  the  blame  upon  other  people,  and  cannot — she  feels 
it  is  all  herself.  All  her  bubbles  of  grandeur  have  burst, 
and  she  finds  herself  not  half  so  respectable  as  she  was 
before  her  vanity  induced  her  to  cut  her  former  acquaint- 
ance, and  try  to  get  into  the  society  of  those  who  laughed 
at  her,  and  at  the  same  time  were  not  half  so  creditable. 


286  Jacob  Faithful 

But  it's  that  cursed  money  which  has  proved  her  unhappi- 
ness — and,  I  may  add,  mine." 

"Well,  sir,  I  see  no  chance  of  its  ever  adding  to  my 
misfortunes,  at  all  events." 

"Perhaps  not,  Jacob,  even  if  you  ever  should  get  any ; 
but,  at  all  events,  you  may  take  a  little  to-morrow,  if  you 
please.  I  cannot  ask  you  to  dine  here ;  it  would  not  be 
pleasant  to  you,  and  show  a  want  of  feeling  to  my  wife ; 
but  I  should  like  you  to  come  up  with  the  wherry  to- 
morrow, and  we'll  take  a  cruise." 

**  Very  well,  I  shall  be  at  your  orders — at  what  time  ?  " 

"Say  ten  o'clock,  if  the  weather  is  line;  if  not,  the 
next  day." 

"  Then,  sir,  I'll  now  wish  you  good-bye,  as  I  must  go 
and  see  the  Domine." 

Mr  Turnbull  shook  my  hand,  and  we  parted.  I  was 
soon  at  Brentford,  and  was  continuing  my  course  through 
the  long,  main  street,  when  I  met  Mr  and  Mrs  Tomkins, 
the  former  head  clerk,  who  had  charge  of  the  Brentford 
Wharf.  "  I  was  intending  to  call  upon  you,  sir,  after  I 
had  paid  a  visit  to  my  old  master." 

"Very  well,  Jacob j  and  recollect  we  dine  at  half-past 
three — fillet  of  veal  and  bacon — don't  be  too  late  for 
dinner." 

I  promised  that  I  would  not,  and,  in  a  few  minutes  more, 
arrived  at  the  Grammar  School.  I  looked  at  its  peaked, 
antiquated  front,  and  called  to  mind  my  feelings  when, 
years  back,  I  had  first  entered  its  porch.  What  a  difference 
between  the  little  uncouth,  ignorant,  savage,  tricked  out 
like  a  harlequin,  and  now  the  tall,  athletic,  well  dressed 
youth,  happy  in  his  independence,  and  conscious,  although 
not  vain,  of  his  acquirements !  and  I  mentally  blessed  the 
founders.  But  I  had  to  talk  to  the  Domine,  and  to  keep 
my  appointment  with  the  veal  and  bacon  at  half-past  three, 
so  I  could  not  spare  any  time  for  meditation.  I,  therefore, 
unfolded  my  arms,  and,  making  use  of  my  legs,  entered 
the  wicket,  and  proceeded  to  the  Domine's  room.  The 
door  was   ajar,  and  I  entered   without  being  perceived. 


Jacob  Faithful  287 

I  have  often  been  reminded,  by  Flemish  paintings  which 
I  have  seen  since,  of  the  picture  which  then  presented 
itself.  The  room  was  not  large,  but  lofty.  It  had  but 
one  window,  fitted  with  small  diamond-shaped  panes,  in 
heavy  wood-work,  through  which  poured  a  broad,  but 
subdued,  stream  of  light.  On  one  side  of  the  window  was 
an  ancient  armoire,  containing  the  Domine's  library,  not 
gilt  and  lettered,  but  well  thumbed  and  worn.  On  the 
other  his  huge  chest  of  drawers,  on  which  lay,  alas !  for 
the  benefit  of  the  rising  generation,  a  new  birch  rod,  of 
large  dimensions.  The  table  was  in  the  centre  of  the 
room,  and  the  Domine  sat  at  it,  with  his  back  to  the 
window,  in  a  dressing-gown,  once  black,  having  been  a 
cassock,  but  now  brown  with  age.  He  was  on  his  high 
and  narrow-backed  chair,  leaning  forwards,  with  both 
elbows  on  the  table,  his  spectacles  on  his  luxuriant  nose, 
and  his  hands  nearly  meeting  on  the  top  of  his  bald  crown, 
earnestly  poring  over  the  contents  of  a  book.  A  large 
Bible,  which  he  constantly  made  use  of,  was  also  on  the 
table,  and  had  apparently  been  shoved  from  him  to  give 
place  to  the  present  object  of  his  meditations.  His  pipe 
lay  on  the  floor,  in  two  pieces,  having  been  thrown  off 
without  his  perceiving  it.  On  one  side  of  him  was  a  sheet 
of  paper,  on  which  he  evidently  had  been  writing  extracts. 
I  passed  by  him  without  his  perceiving  me,  and,  gaining 
the  back  of  his  chair,  looked  over  his  shoulder.  The 
work  he  was  so  intent  upon  was  **  Ovid's  Remedy  of 
Love." 

It  appeared  that  he  had  nearly  finished  reading  through 
the  whole,  for  in  less  than  a  minute  he  closed  the  book, 
and  laying  his  spectacles  down,  threw  himself  back  in  his 
chair.  "  Strange,"  soliloquised  the  Domine.  "  Yet, 
verily,  is  some  of  his  advice  important,  and  I  should 
imagine  commendable,  yet  I  do  not  find  my  remedy  therein. 
'  Avoid  idleness,^ — yes,  that  is  sage  counsel — and  employ- 
ment to  one  that  hath  not  employed  himself  may  drive 
away  thought ;  but  I  have  never  been  idle,  and  mine  hath 
not  been  love  in  idleness.     *  Avoid  her  presence,^ — that  I 


288  Jacob  Faithful 

must  do  ;  yet  doth  she  still  present  herself  to  mine 
imagination,  and  I  doubt  whether  the  tangible  reality  could 
be  more  clearly  perceptible.  Even  now  doth  she  stand 
before  me  in  all  her  beauty.  '  Read  not  Propertius  and 
Tibullus,^ — that  is  easily  refrained  from ;  but  read  what  I 
will,  in  a  minute  the  type  passeth  from  my  eyes,  and  I  see 
but  her  face  beaming  from  the  page.  Nay,  cast  my  eyes 
in  what  direction  I  may  wist,  it  is  the  same.  If  I  look  at 
the  stained  wall,  the  indistinct  lines  gradually  form  them- 
selves into  her  profile ;  if  I  look  at  the  clouds,  they  will 
assume  some  of  the  redundant  outlines  of  her  form ;  if  I 
cast  mine  eyes  upon  the  fire  in  the  kitchen-grate,  the  coals 
will  glow  and  cool  until  I  see  her  face ;  nay,  but  yester- 
day, the  shoulder  of  mutton  upon  the  spit,  gyrated  until  it 
at  last  assumed  the  decapitated  head  of  Mary.  '  Think  of 
her  faults  and  magnfy  them,^ — nay,  that  were  unjust  and 
unchristian.  Let  me  rather  correct  mine  own.  I  fear  me, 
that  when  Ovid  wrote  his  picture,  he  intended  it  for  the 
use  of  young  men,  and  not  for  an  old  fool  like  me. 
Behold !  I  have  again  broken  my  pipe — the  fourth  pipe 
that  I  have  destroyed  this  week.  What  will  the  dame 
say  ?  already  hath  she  declared  me  demented,  and  God 
knows  she  is  not  very  far  from  the  truth;"  and  the 
Domine  covered  up  his  face  in  his  hands.  I  took  this 
opportunity  to  step  to  the  door,  and  appear  to  enter  it, 
dropping  the  latch,  and  rousing  the  Domine  by  the  noise, 
who  extended  to  me  his  hand.  *'  Welcome,  my  son — 
welcome  to  thine  old  preceptor,  and  to  the  walls  which 
first  received  thee,  when  thou  wert  cast  on  shore  as  a 
tangle  weed  from  the  river.  Sit,  Jacob ;  I  was  thinking 
of  thee  and  thine." 

*'  What,  sir !  of  old  Stapleton  and  his  daughter,  I 
suppose." 

"Even  so;  ye  were  all  in  my  thoughts  at  the  moment 
that  thou  madest  thy  appearance.     They  are  well  ? " 

"Yes,  sir,"  replied  I.  "I  see  but  little  of  them;  the 
old  man  is  always  smoking,  and  as  for  the  girl — why,  the 
less  one  sees  of  her  the  better,  I  should  say." 


Jacob  Faithful  289 

"  Nay,  Jacob,  this  is  new  to  me ;  yet  is  she  most 
pleasant." 

I  knew  the  Domine's  character,  and  that  if  anything 
could  cure  his  unfortunate  passion,  it  would  be  a  supposi- 
tion, on  his  part,  that  the  girl  was  not  correct.  I  deter- 
mined at  all  events  to  depreciate  her,  as  I  knew  that  what 
I  said  would  never  be  mentioned  by  him,  and  would  there- 
fore do  her  no  harm.  Still,  I  felt  that  I  had  to  play  a 
difficult  game,  as  I  was  determined  not  to  state  what  was 
not  the  fact.  "Pleasant,  sir;  yes,  pleasant  to  every  body; 
the  fact  is,  I  don't  like  such  girls  as  she  is." 

"Indeed,  Jacob j  what,  is  she  light?"  I  smiled,  and 
made  no  answer.  "  Yet  I  perceived  it  not,"  replied  the 
Domine. 

"  She  is  just  like  her  mother,"  observed  I. 

**  And  what  was  her  mother  ? " 

I  gave  a  brief  account  of  her  mother,  and  how  she  met 
her  death  in  trying  to  escape  from  her  husband.  The 
Domine  mused.  "  Little  skilled  am  I  in  women,  Jacob, 
yet  what  thou  sayest  not  only  surpriseth  but  grieveth  me. 
She  is  fair  to  look  upon." 

"  Handsome  is  that  handsome  does,  sir  She'll  make 
many  a  man's  heart  ache  yet,  I  expect." 

"Indeed,  Jacob,  I  am  full  of  marvel  at  what  thou  hast 
already  told  me." 

"  I  have  seen  more  of  her,  sir." 

**  I  pray  thee  tell  me  more." 

"  No,  sir,  I  had  rather  not.  You  may  imagine  all  you 
please." 

"  Still  she  is  young,  Jacob ;  when  she  becometh  a  wife 
she  might  alter." 

"  Sir,  it  is  my  firm  opinion  "  (and  so  it  was),  "  that  if  you 
were  to  marry  her  to-morrow,  she  would  run  away  from 
you  in  a  week." 

"  Is  that  thy  candid  opinion,  Jacob  ?  " 

"  I  will  stake  my  life  upon  her  so  doing,  although  not 
as  to  the  exact  time." 

"  Jacob,  I  thank   thee — thank   thee   much ;   thou  hast 

J.F.  T 


290  Jacob  Faithful 

opened  mine  eyes — thou  hast  done  me  more  good  than 
Ovid.  Yes,  boy;  even  the  ancients,  whom  I  have  vener- 
ated, have  not  done  me  so  kind  an  act  as  thou,  a  stripling, 
whom  I  have  fostered.  Thou  hast  repaid  me,  Jacob — 
thou  hast  rewarded  me,  Jacob — thou  hast  protected  me, 
Jacob — thou  hast  saved  me,  Jacob — hast  saved  me,  both 
from  myself  and  from  her ;  for  know,  Jacob — know — that 
mine  heart  did  yearn  towards  that  maiden ;  and  I  thought 
her  even  to  be  perfection.  Jacob,  I  thank  thee !  Now 
leave  me,  Jacob,  that  I  may  commune  with  myself,  and 
search  out  my  own  heart,  for  I  am  awakened — awakened 
as  from  a  dream,  and  I  would  fain  be  quite  alone." 

I  was  not  sorry  to  leave  the  Domine,  for  I  also  felt  that 
I  would  fain  be  in  company  with  the  fillet  of  veal  and 
bacon,  so  I  shook  hands,  and  thus  ended  my  second 
morning  call.  I  was  in  good  time  at  Mr  Tompkins's,  who 
received  me  with  great  kindness.  He  was  well  pleased 
with  his  new  situation,  which  was  one  of  respectability  and 
consequence,  independently  of  profit ;  and  I  met  at  his 
table  one  or  two  people,  who,  to  my  knowledge,  would 
have  considered  it  degrading  to  have  visited  him  when 
only  head  clerk  to  Mr  Drummond.  We  talked  over  old 
affairs,  not  forgetting  the  ball,  and  the  illuminations,  and 
Mr  Turnbull's  bon-mot  about  Paradise  ;  and  after  a  very 
pleasant  evening,  \  took  my  leave  with  the  intention  of 
walking  back  to  Fulham,  but  I  found  old  Tom  waiting  out- 
side, on  the  look  out  for  me. 

"  Jacob,  my  boy,  I  want  you  to  come  down  to  my  old 
shop  one  of  these  days.  What  day  will  you  be  able 
to  come  ?  The  lighter  will  be  here  for  a  fortnight,  at 
least,  I  find  from  Mr  Tompkins,  as  she  waits  for  a  cargo 
coming  by  canal,  and  there  is  no  other  craft  expected  above 
bridge,  so  tell  me  what  day  will  you  come  and  see  the  old 
woman,  and  spend  the  whole  day  with  us.  I  wants  to  talk 
a  bit  with  you,  and  ax  your  opinion  about  a  good  many 
little  things." 

"  Indeed  !  "  replied  I,  smiling.  "  What,  are  you  going 
to  build  a  new  house  ?  " 


Jacob  Faithful  291 

"  No,  no — not  that ;  but  you  see,  Jacob,  as  I  told  you 
last  winter,  it  was  time  for  me  to  give  up  night-work  up 
and  down  the  river.  I'm  not  so  young  as  I  was  about  fifty 
years  ago,  and  there's  a  time  for  all  things.  I  do  mean 
to  give  up  the  craft  in  the  autumn,  and  go  on  shore  for  a 
full  due  :  but,  at  the  same  time,  I  must  see  how  I  can  make 
matters  out,  so  tell  me  what  day  you  will  come." 

"  Well,  then,  shall  we  say  Wednesday  ? " 

"  Wednesday's  as  good  a  day  as  any  other  day ;  come 
to  breakfast,  and  you  shall  go  away  after  supper,  if 
you  like  ;  if  not,  the  old  woman  shall  sling  a  hammock 
for  you." 

*'  Agreed,  then  ;  but  where's  Tom  ?" 

"  Tom,  I  don't  know  ;  but  I  think  he's  gone  after  that 
daughter  of  Stapleton's.  He  begins  to  think  of  the 
girls  now,  Jacob  ;  but,  as  the  old  buffer,  her  father  says, 
*  it's  all  human  natur.'  Howsomever,  I  never  interferes 
in  these  matters  j  they  seems  to  be  pretty  well  matched,  I 
think." 

"  How  do  you  mean  ?  " 

"  Why,  as  for  good  looks,  they  be  well  enough  matched, 
that's  sure  ;  but  I  don't  mean  that,  I  mean,  he  is  quite 
as  knowing  as  she  is,  and  will  shift  his  helm  as  she  shifts 
hers.  'Twill  be  a  long  running  fight,  and  when  one 
strikes,  t'other  wo' n't  have  much  to  boast  of.  Perhaps  they 
may  sheer  off  after  all — perhaps  they  may  sail  as  consorts ; 
God  only  knows  ;  but  this  I  knows,  that  Tom's  sweet- 
heart may  be  as  tricky  as  she  pleases,  but  Tom's  wife  wo'n't 
be, — 'cause  why  ?  He'll  keep  her  in  order.  Weil,  good- 
night ;  I  have  a  long  walk." 

When  I  returned  home,  I  found  Mary  alone.  "  Has 
Tom  been  here  ?  "  inquired  L 

"  What  makes  you  ask  that  question  ?  "  replied  Mary. 

*'  To  have  it  answered — if  you  have  no  objection." 

"  O,  no  !  Well,  then,  Mr  Jacob,  Tom  has  been  here, 
and  very  amusing  he  has  been." 

"So  he  always  is,"  replied  I. 

"  And  where  may  you  have  been  ?  "     I  told  her.     "  So 


292  Jacob  Faithful 

you  saw  old  Domine.  Now,  tell  me,  what  did  he  say  about 
me  ? " 

"  That  I  shall  not  tell,"  replied  I ;  "  but  I  will  tell  you 
this,  that  he  will  never  think  about  you  any  more  ;  and  you 
must  not  expect  ever  to  see  him  again." 

"  But  recollect  that  he  promised." 

*'  He  kept  his  promise,  Mary." 

*'  O,  he  told  you  so,  did  he  ?  Did  he  tell  you  all  that 
passed  ?  " 

"  No,  Mary,  he  never  told  me  that  he  had  been  here  ; 
neither  did  he  tell  me  what  had  passed  5  but  I  happen  to 
know  all." 

"  I  cannot  understand  that." 

"  Still,  it  is  true  ;  and  I  think,  on  the  whole,  you  behaved 
pretty  well,  although  I  cannot  understand  why  you  gave 
him  a  kiss  at  parting." 

"  Good  heaven  !  where  were  you  ?  You  must  have 
been  in  the  room.  And  you  heard  every  word  that 
passed  ? " 

"  Every  word,"  replied  I. 

''Well,"  said  Mary,  "I  could  not  have  believed  that 
you  could  have  done  so  mean  a  thing." 

*'  Mary,  rather  accuse  your  own  imprudence ;  what  I 
heard  was  to  be  heard  by  everyone  in  the  street  as  well 
as  by  me.  If  you  choose  to  have  love  scenes  in  a  room 
not  eight  feet  from  the  ground  with  the  window  wide 
open,  you  must  not  be  surprised  at  every  passer-by  hearing 
what  you  say." 

"Well,  that's  true,  I  never  thought  of  the  window 
being  open  ;  not  that  I  would  have  cared  if  all  the  world 
had  heard  me,  if  you  had  not." 

It  never  occurred  to  me  till  then,  why  Mary  was 
annoyed  at  my  having  overheard  her,  but  at  once  I 
recollected  what  she  had  said  about  me.  I  made  no 
answer.  Mary  sat  down,  leaned  her  forehead  against 
her  hands,  and  was  also  silent ;  I,  therefore,  took  my 
candle  and  retired.  It  appeared  that  Mary's  pride  was 
much   mortified   at   my   having   heard   her  confession  of 


Jacob  Faithful  293 

being  partial  to  me — a  confession  which  certainly  made 
very  little  impression  on  me,  as  I  considered  that  she 
might,  a  month  afterwards,  confess  the  same  relative  to 
Tom,  or  any  other  individual  who  took  her  fancy  ;  but 
in  this  I  did  not  do  her  justice.  Her  manners  were  after- 
wards much  changed  towards  me ;  she  always  appeared 
to  avoid,  rather  than  to  seek  further  intimacy.  As  for 
myself,  I  continued,  as  before,  very  good  friends,  kind 
towards  her,  but  nothing  more.  The  next  morning  I 
was  up  at  Mr  Turnbull's  by  the  time  agreed  upon,  but 
before  I  set  off,  rather  a  singular  occurrence  took  place. 
I  had  just  finished  cleaning  my  boat,  and  had  resumed 
my  jacket,  when  a  dark  man,  from  some  foreign  country, 
came  to  the  hard  with  a  bundle  under  his  arm. 

**  How  much  for  to  go  to  the  other  side  of  the  river — 
how  much  pence  ?  " 

"  Two-pence,"  replied  I ;  but  not  caring  to  take  him, 
I  continued,  "  but  you  only  pay  one  penny  to  cross  the 
bridge." 

"  I  know  very  well,  but  suppose  you  take  me  ?" 

He  was  a  well-looking,  not  very  dark  man ;  his  turban 
was  of  coloured  cloth — his  trousers  not  very  wide ;  and 
I  could  not  comprehend  whether  he  was  a  Turk  or  not ; 
I  afterwards  found  out  he  was  a  Parsee,  from  the  East 
Indies.  He  spoke  very  plain  English.  As  he  decided 
upon  crossing,  I  received  him,  and  shoved  off;  when 
we  were  in  the  middle  of  the  stream,  he  requested  me 
to  pull  a  little  way  up.  "  That  will  do,"  said  he,  opening 
his  bundle  and  spreading  a  carpet  on  the  stern  flooring 
of  the  wherry.  He  then  rose,  looking  at  the  sun,  which 
was  then  rising  in  all  its  majesty,  bowed  to  it  with  his 
hands  raised,  three  times,  then  knelt  on  the  carpet,  and 
touched  it  several  times  with  his  forehead,  again  rose 
on  his  feet,  took  some  common  field  flowers  from  his 
vest,  and  cast  them  into  the  stream,  bowed  again,  folded 
up  his  carpet,  and  begged  me  to  pull  on  shore. 

•*  I  say  my  prayers,"  said  the  man,  looking  at  me  with 
his  dark,  piercing  eye. 


294  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Very  proper  ;  whom  did  you  say  them  to  ?'* 

"  To  my  God." 

"  But  why  don't  you  say  them  on  shore  ? " 

"  Can't  see  sun  in  the  house  ;  suppose  I  go  out,  little 
boys  laugh  and  throw  mud.  Where  no  am  seen,  river 
very  proper  place." 

We  landed,  and  he  took  out  three  pence,  and  offered 
it  to  me.  " No,  no,"  said  I,  "I  don't  want  you  to  pay 
for  saying  your  prayers." 

*'  No  take  money  ? " 

*'  Yes,  take  money  to  cross  the  river,  but  not  take 
money  for  saying  prayers.  If  you  want  to  say  them 
any  other  morning  come  down,  and  if  I  am  here,  I'll 
always  pull  you  into  the  stream." 

"  You  very  good  man;  I  thank  you." 

The  Parsee  made  me  a  low  salaam,  and  walked  away. 
I  may  here  observe,  that  the  man  generally  came  down 
at  sunrise  two  or  three  days  in  the  week,  and  I  invariably 
gave  him  a  pull  off  into  the  stream,  that  he  might  pursue 
his  religious  ceremony.  We  often  conversed,  and  at  last 
became  intimate. 

Mr  Turnbull  was  at  the  bottom  of  the  lawn,  which 
extended  from  his  house  to  the  banks  of  the  river,  looking 
out  for  me  when  I  pulled  up.  The  basket  with  our 
dinner,  &c.,  was  lying  by  him  on  the  gravel  walk. 

"  This  is  a  lovely  morning,  Jacob ;  but  it  will  be 
rather  a  warm  day,  I  expect,"  said  he;  "come  let  us  be 
off  at  once ;  lay  in  your  sculls,  and  let  us  get  the  oars  to 
pass." 

"How  is  Mrs  Turnbull,  sir  ?" 

"Pretty  well,  Jacob,  more  like  the  Molly  Brown  that 
I  married  than  she  has  been  for  some  years.  Perhaps,  after 
all,  this  affair  may  turn  out  one  of  the  best  things  that  ever 
happened.  It  may  bring  her  to  her  senses — bring  happi- 
ness back  to  our  hearth ;  if  so,  Jacob,  the  money  is  well 
spent." 


Jacob  Faithful  295 


Chapter  XXXI 

Mr  Tumbull  and  I  go  on  a  party  of  pleasure — It  turns  out  to  be  an 
adventure,  and  winds  up  with  a  blunderbuss,  a  tin-box,  and  a  lady's 
cloak. 

We  pulled  leisurely  up  the  stream,  talking,  and  every 
now  and  then  resting  on  our  oars,  to  take  breath ;  for, 
as  the  old  captain  said,  "Why  should  we  make  a  toil  of 
pleasure  ?  I  like  the  upper  part  of  the  river  best,  Jacob, 
because  the  water  is  clear,  and  I  love  clear  water.  How 
many  hours  have  I,  when  a  boy  on  board  ship,  hung  over 
the  gunwale  of  a  boat,  lowered  down  in  a  calm,  and 
watched  the  little  floating  objects  in  the  dark  blue  un- 
fathomable water  beneath  me ;  objects  of  all  sizes,  of  all 
colours,  and  of  all  shapes — all  of  them  beautiful  and  to 
be  admired  j  yet  of  them,  perhaps,  not  one  in  a  hundred 
millions  ever  meet  the  eye  of  man.  You  know,  Jacob, 
that  the  North  Seas  are  full  of  these  animals — you  cannot 
imagine  the  quantity  of  them ;  the  sailors  call  them 
blubbers,  because  they  are  composed  of  a  sort  of  trans- 
parent jelly,  but  the  real  name  I  am  told  is  Medusae,  that 
is  the  learned  name.  The  whale  feeds  on  them,  and  that 
is  the  reason  why  the  whale  is  found  where  they  are." 

"  I  should  like  very  much  to  go  a  voyage  to  the  whale 
fishery,"  replied  I  j  "  I've  heard  so  much  about  it  from  you." 

"It  is  a  stirring  life,  and  a  hard  life,  Jacob,  still  it  is 
an  exciting  one.  Some  voyages  will  turn  out  very  pleasant, 
but  others  are  dreadful,  from  their  anxiety.  If  the  weather 
continues  fine,  it  is  all  very  well ;  but  sometimes  when 
there  is  a  continuance  of  bad  weather,  it  is  dreadful.  I 
recollect  one  voyage  which  made  me  show  more  grey 
hairs  than  all  the  others,  and  I  think  I  have  been  twenty- 
two  in  all.  We  were  in  the  drift  ice,  forcing  our  way 
to  the  northward,  when  it  came  on  to  blow — the  sea  rose, 
and  after  a  week's  gale,  it  was  tremendous.  We  had 
little  daylight,  and  when  it  was  daylight,  the  fog  was  so 


2g6  Jacob  Faithful 

thick  that  we  could  see  but  little ;  there  we  were  tossing 
among  the  large  drift  ice,  meeting  immense  icebergs  which 
bore  down  with  all  the  force  of  the  gale,  and  each  time 
we  narrowly  escaped  perishing :  the  rigging  was  loaded 
with  ice ;  the  bows  of  the  ship  were  cased  with  it ;  the 
men  were  more  than  half  frozen,  and  we  could  not  move 
a  rope  through  a  block,  without  pouring  boiling  water 
through  it  first,  to  clear  i"  out.  But  then  the  long,  dreary, 
dreadful  nights,  when  we  were  rising  on  the  mountain 
wave,  and  then  pitching  down  into  the  trough,  not  know- 
ing but  that  at  each  send  we  might  strike  upon  the  ice 
below,  and  go  to  the  bottom  immediately  afterwards. 
All  pitchy  dark — the  wind  howling,  and  as  it  struck  you, 
cutting  you  to  the  backbone  with  its  cold,  searching  power, 
the  waves  dancing  all  black  around  you,  and  every  now 
and  then  perceiving  by  its  white  colour  and  the  foam 
encircling  it,  a  huge  mass  of  ice  borne  upon  you,  and 
hurled  against  you  as  if  there  were  a  demon,  who  was 
using  it  as  an  engine  for  your  destruction.  I  never  shall 
forget  the  turning  of  an  iceberg,  during  the  dreadful  gale, 
which  lasted  for  a  month  and  three  days." 

"  I  don't  know  what  that  means,  sir." 

"  Why,  you  must  know,  Jacob,  that  the  icebergs  are  all 
fresh  water,  and  are  supposed  to  have  been  detached  from 
the  land  by  the  force  of  the  weather  and  other  causes. 
Now,  although  ice  floats,  yet  it  floats  deep :  that  is,  if  an 
iceberg  is  five  hundred  feet  high  above  the  water,  it  is 
generally  six  times  as  deep  below  the  water — do  you 
understand  ? " 

"Perfectly,  sir," 

**  Now,  Jacob,  the  water  is  much  warmer  than  the  air, 
and,  in  consequence,  the  ice  under  the  water  melts  away 
much  faster ;  so  that  if  an  iceberg  has  been  some  time 
afloat,  at  last  the  part  that  is  below  is  not  so  heavy  as 
that  which  is  above ;  then  it  turns,  that  is,  it  upsets  and 
floats  in  another  position." 

"  I  understand  you,  sir." 

**  Well,  we  were  close  to   an   iceberg,  which  was  to 


Jacob  Faithful  297 

windward  of  us,  a  very  tall  one,  indeed,  and  we  reckoned 
that  we  should  get  clear  of  it,  for  we  were  carrying  a  press 
of  sail  to  effect  it.  Still  all  hands  were  eagerly  watching 
the  iceberg,  as  it  came  down  very  fast  before  the  storm. 
All  of  a  sudden  it  blew  twice  as  hard  as  before,  and  then 
one  of  the  men  shouted  out — *  Turning,  turning  ! ' — and  sure 
enough  it  was.  There  was  its  towering  summit  gradually 
bowing  towards  us,  until  it  almost  appeared  as  if  the  peak 
was  over  our  heads.  Our  fate  appeared  inevitable,  as  the 
whole  mountain  of  ice  was  descending  on  the  vessel,  and 
would,  of  course,  have  crushed  us  into  atoms.  We  all 
fell  on  our  knees,  praying  mentally,  and  watching  its 
awful  descent ;  even  the  man  at  the  helm  did  the  same, 
although  he  did  not  let  go  the  spokes  of  the  wheel.  It 
had  nearly  half  turned  over,  right  for  us,  when  the  ice 
below,  being  heavier  on  one  side  than  on  the  other,  gave 
it  a  more  slanting  impetus,  and  shifting  the  direction  of 
its  fall,  it  plunged  into  the  sea  about  a  cable's  length 
astern  of  us,  throwing  up  the  water  to  the  heavens  in 
foam,  and  blinding  us  all  with  the  violence  with  which  it 
dashed  into  our  faces.  For  a  minute,  the  run  of  the  waves 
was  checked,  and  the  sea  appeared  to  boil  and  dance, 
throwing  up  peaked,  pointed  masses  of  water  in  all  direc- 
tions, one  sinking,  another  rising ;  the  ship  rocked  and 
reeled  as  if  she  were  drunk  j  even  the  current  of  the  gale 
was  checked  for  a  moment,  and  the  heavy  sails  flapped 
and  cleared  themselves  of  their  icy  varnishing — then  all 
was  over.  There  was  an  iceberg  of  another  shape  astern 
of  us,  the  gale  recommenced,  the  waves  pressed  each  other 
on  as  before,  and  we  felt  the  return  of  the  gale,  awful  as 
it  was,  as  a  reprieve.  That  was  a  dreadful  voyage,  Jacob, 
and  turned  one-third  of  my  hair  grey ;  and  what  made  it 
worse  was,  that  we  had  only  three  fish  on  board  on  our 
return.  However,  we  had  reason  to  be  thankful,  for 
eighteen  of  our  vessels  were  lost  altogether,  and  it  was 
the  mercy  of  God  that  we  were  not  among  the  number." 

"  Well,  I  suppose  you  told  me  that  story  to  prevent  my 
going  a  voyage  ? ' 


298  Jacob  Faithful 

*'Not  a  bit,  Jacob;  if  it  should  chance  that  you  find  it 
your  interest  to  go  to  the  North  Pole,  or  anywhere  else,  I 
would  say  go,  by  all  means;  let  neither  difficulty  nor 
danger  deter  you ;  but  do  not  go  merely  from  curiosity ; 
that  I  consider  foolish.  It's  all  very  well  for  those  who 
come  back  to  have  the  satisfaction  to  talk  of  such  things, 
and  it  is  but  fair  that  they  should  have  it ;  but  when  you 
consider  how  many  there  are  who  never  come  back  at  all, 
why,  then  it's  very  foolish  to  push  yourself  into  needless 
danger  and  privation.  You  are  amused  with  my  recollec- 
tions of  Arctic  voyages  ;  but  just  call  to  mind  how  many 
years  of  hardship,  of  danger,  cold,  and  starvation  I  have 
undergone  to  collect  all  these  anecdotes,  and  then  judge 
whether  it  be  worth  any  man's  while  to  go  for  the  sake 
of  mere  curiosity." 

I  then  amused  Mr  Turnbull  with  the  description  of  the 
picnic  party,  which  lasted  until  we  had  pulled  far  beyond 
Kew  Bridge.  We  thrust  the  bow  of  the  wherry  into  a 
bunch  of  sedges,  and  then  we  sat  down  to  our  meal, 
surrounded  by  hundreds  of  blue  dragon-flies,  that  flitted 
about  as  if  to  inquire  what  we  meant  by  intruding  upon 
their  domiciles.  We  continued  there  chatting  and  amusing 
ourselves  till  it  was  late,  and  then  shoved  off  and  pulled 
down  with  the  stream.  The  sun  had  set,  and  we  had 
yet  six  or  seven  miles  to  return  to  Mr  Turnbull's  house, 
when  we  perceived  a  slight,  handsome  young  man,  in  a 
small  skiff,  who  pulled  towards  us. 

"I  say,  my  lads,"  said  he,  taking  us  both  for  watermen, 
"have  you  a  mind  to  earn  a  couple  of  guineas,  with  very 
little  trouble  ? " 

"O  yes,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull,  "if  you  can  show  us 
how.  A  fine  chance  for  you,  Jacob,"  continued  he, 
aside. 

**  Well,  then,  I  shall  want  your  services,  perhaps,  for 
not  more  than  an  hour ;  it  may  be  a  little  longer,  as  there 
is  a  lady  in  question,  and  we  may  have  to  wait.  All  I 
ask  is,  that  you  pull  well  and  do  your  best.  Are  you 
agreed  ? " 


Jacob  Faithful  299 

"We  consented ;  and  he  requested  us  to  follow  him,  and 
then  pulled  for  the  shore. 

"This  is  to  be  an  adventure,  sir,"  said  I. 

"So  it  seems,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull ;  "all  the  better. 
I'm  old  now,  but  I'm  fond  of  a  spree." 

The  gentleman  pulled  into  a  little  boat-house  by  the 
river's  side,  belonging  to  one  of  the  villas  on  the  bank, 
made  fast  his  boat,  and  then  stepped  into  ours. 

"  Now,  we've  plenty  of  time ;  just  pull  quietly  for  the 
present."  We  continued  down  the  river,  and  after  we 
had  passed  Kew  Bridge,  he  directed  us  in-shore,  on  the 
right  side,  till  we  came  to  a  garden  sweeping  down  to 
the  river  from  a  cottage  ornee,  of  large  dimensions,  about 
fifty  yards  from  the  bank.  The  water  was  up  to  the 
brick-wall,  which  rose  from  the  river  about  four  or  five 
feet.  "  That  will  do,  st — ,  st, —  not  a  word,"  said  he, 
rising  in  the  stern  sheets,  and  looking  over.  After  a 
minute  or  two  reconnoitring,  he  climbed  from  the  boat 
on  to  the  parapet  of  the  wall,  and  whistled  two  bars  of  an 
air  which  I  had  till  then  never  heard.  All  was  silent. 
He  crouched  behind  a  lilac  bush,  and  in  a  minute  he 
repeated  the  same  air  in  a  whistle  as  before ;  still  there 
was  no  appearance  of  movement  at  the  cottage.  He  con- 
tinued at  intervals  to  whistle  the  portion  of  the  air,  and  at 
last  a  light  appeared  at  an  upper  window :  it  was  removed, 
and  re-appeared  three  times.  "Be  ready  now,  my  lads," 
said  he.  In  about  two  minutes  afterwards,  a  female,  in  a 
cloak,  appeared,  coming  down  the  lawn,  with  a  box  in  her 
hand,  panting  with  excitement. 

"  Oh !  William,  I  heard  your  first  signal,  but  I  could 
not  get  into  my  uncle's  room  for  the  box ;  at  last  he  went 
out,  and  here  it  is." 

The  gentleman  seized  the  box  from  her,  and  handed  it 
to  us  in  the  boat. 

"Take  great  care  of  that,  my  lads,"  said  he;  "and 
now,  Cecilia,  we  have  no  time  to  lose ;  the  sooner  you  are 
in  the  boat,  the  better." 

"  How  am  I  to  get  down  there,  William  ? "  replied  she. 


300  Jacob  Faithful 

*'  O,  nothing  more  easy.  Stop,  throw  your  cloak  into 
the  boat,  and  then  all  you  have  to  do  is,  first  to  get  upon 
the  top  of  the  wall,  and  then  trust  to  the  watermen  below 
and  to  me  above  for  helping  you." 

It  was  not,  however,  quite  so  easy  a  matter ;  the  wall 
was  four  feet  high  above  the  boat,  and,  moreover,  there 
was  a  trellised  work  of  iron,  above  a  foot  high,  which  ran 
along  the  wall.  Still  she  made  every  effort  on  her  own 
part,  and  we  considered  that  we  had  arranged  so  as  to 
conquer  the  difficulty,  when  the  young  lady  gave  a  scream. 
We  looked  up  and  beheld  a  third  party  on  the  wall.  It 
was  a  stout,  tall,  elderly  man,  as  far  as  we  could  perceive 
in  the  dark,  who  immediately  seized  hold  of  the  lady  by 
the  arm,  and  was  dragging  her  away.  This  was  resisted 
by  the  young  gentleman,  and  the  lady  was  relinquished  by 
the  other,  to  defend  himself  j  at  the  same  time  that  he 
called  out, 

"  Help,  help  !     Thieves,  thieves  !  " 

"Shall  I  go  to  his  assistance?"  said  I  to  Mr  Turnbull. 
"  One  must  stay  in  the  boat." 

"Jump  up,  then,  Jacob,  for  I  never  could  get  up  that 
wall." 

I  was  up  In  a  moment,  and  gaining  my  feet,  was  about  to 
spring  to  the  help  of  the  young  man,  when  four  servants, 
with  lights  and  with  arms  in  their  hands,  made  their 
appearance,  hastening  down  the  lawn.  The  lady  had 
fainted  on  the  grass  j  the  elderly  gentleman  and  his 
antagonist  were  down  together,  but  the  elderly  gentleman 
had  the  mastery,  for  he  was  uppermost.  Perceiving  the 
assistance  coming,  he  called  out,  "Look  to  the  watermen, 
secure  them."  I  perceived  that  not  a  moment  was  to  be 
lost.  I  could  be  of  no  service,  and  Mr  Turnbull  might  be 
in  an  awkward  scrape.  I  sprang  into  the  boat,  shoved  off, 
and  we  were  in  the  stream  and  at  thirty  yards'  distance 
before  they  looked  over  the  wall  to  see  where  we  were. 

"  Stop  in  that  boat !  stop  !  "  they  cried. 

"  Fire,  if  they  don't,"  cried  their  master. 

We  pulled  as  hard  as  we  could.     A  musquetoon  was 


Jacob  Faithful  301 

discharged,  but  the  shot  dropped  short ;  the  only  person 
■who  fell  was  the  man  who  fired  it.  To  see  us  he  had 
stood  upon  the  coping  bricks  of  the  wall,  and  the  i-ecoil 
tumbled  him  over  into  the  river:  we  saw  him  fall,  and 
heard  the  splash ;  but  we  pulled  on  as  hard  as  we  could, 
and  in  a  few  minutes  the  scene  of  action  was  far  behind  us, 
"We  then  struck  across  to  the  other  side  of  the  river,  and 
when  we  had  gained  close  to  the  shore,  we  took  breath. 

"Well,"  said  Mr  TurnbuU,  "this  is  a  spree  I  little 
looked  for ;  to  have  a  blunderbuss  full  of  shot  sent  after 
me." 

"No,"  replied  I,  laughing,  "that's  carrying  the  joke 
rather  too  far  on  the  River  Thames." 

"Well,  but  what  a  pretty  mess  we  are  in:  here  we 
have  property  belonging  to  God  knows  whom ;  and  what 
are  we  to  do  with  it  ? " 

"  I  think,  sir,  the  best  thing  we  can  do  is,  for  you  to 
land  at  your  own  house  with  the  property,  and  take  care 
of  it  until  we  find  out  what  all  this  is  about ;  and  I  will 
continue  on  with  the  sculls  to  the  hard.  We  shall  hear  or 
find  out  something  about  it  in  a  day  or  two ;  they  may 
still  follow  up  the  pursuit  and  trace  us." 

"  The  advice  is  good,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull,  "  and  the 
sooner  we  cut  over  again  the  better,  for  we  are  nearly 
abreast  of  my  place." 

We  did  so-,  Mr  Turnbull  landed  in  his  garden,  taking 
with  him  the  tin-box  (it  was  what  they  call  a  deed-box), 
and  the  lady's  cloak.  I  did  not  wait,  but  boating  the  oars, 
took  my  sculls  and  pulled  down  to  Fulham  as  fast  as  I 
could.  I  had  arrived,  and  was  pulling  gently  in,  not  to 
injure  the  other  boats,  when  a  man  with  a  lantern  came  into 
the  wherry. 

"  Have  you  anything  in  your  boat,  my  man  ?"  said  he. 

"  Nothing,  sir,"  replied  I.  The  man  examined  the  boat, 
and  was  satisfied. 

"  Tell  me,  did  you  see  a  boat  with  two  men  in  it  as  you 
came  along  ? " 

"No,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  nothing  has  passed  me." 


30 2  Jacob  Faithful 

' '  Where  do  you  come  from  now  ? " 
"  From  a  gentleman's  place  near  Brentford.*' 
*'  Brentford  ?     O  then  you  were  far  below  them.     They 
are  not  down  yet." 

"Have  you  a  job  for  me,  sir?"  said  I,  not  wishing  to 
appear  anxious  to  go  away. 

"  No,  my  man,  no ;  nothing  to-night.  We  are  on  the 
look-out,  but  we  have  two  boats  in  the  stream,  and  a  man 
at  each  landing-place. 

I  made  fast  my  boat,  shouldered  my  oars  and  sculls,  and 
departed,  not  at  all  sorry  to  get  away.  It  appeared  that  as 
soon  as  it  was  ascertained  that  we  were  not  to  be  stopped 
by  being  fired  at,  they  saddled  horses,  and  the  distance  by 
the  road  being  so  much  shorter,  had,  by  galloping  as  hard 
as  they  could,  arrived  at  Fulham  some  ten  minutes  before 
me.  It  was,  therefore,  most  fortunate  that  the  box  had 
been  landed,  or  I  should  have  been  discovered.  That  the 
contents  were  of  value  was  evident,  from  the  anxiety  to 
secure  them  j  but  the  mystery  was  still  to  be  solved.  I 
was  quite  tired  with  exertion  and  excitement  when  I 
arrived  at  Stapleton's.  Mary  was  there  to  give  me  my 
supper,  which  I  ate  in  silence,  complained  of  a  headache, 
and  went  to  bed. 


Chapter  XXXII 

The  waterman  turns  water-knight — I  become  chivalrous,  see  a  beautiful 
face,  and  go  with  the  stream — The  adventure  seems  to  promise  more  law 
than  love,  there  being  papers  in  the  case,  that  is,  in  a  tin-box. 

That  night  I  dreamed  of  nothing  but  the  scene,  over  and 
over  again,  and  the  two  bars  of  music  were  constantly 
ringing  in  my  ears.  As  soon  as  I  had  breakfasted  the 
next  morning,  I  set  off  to  Mr  Turnbull's,  and  told  him 
what  had  occurred. 

"  It  was  indeed  fortunate  that  the  box  was  landed,"  said 
he,  *'  or  you  might  have  now  been  in  prison.     I  wish  I  had 


Jacob  Faithful  303 

had  nothing  to  do  with  it ;  but,  as  you  say,  '  what's  done 
can't  be  helped.'  I  will  not  give  up  the  box,  at  all  events, 
until  I  know  which  party  is  entitled  to  it,  and  I  cannot  help 
thinking  that  the  lady  is.  But,  Jacob,  you  will  have  to 
reconnoitre,  and  find  out  what  this  story  is.  Tell  me,  do 
you  think  you  could  remember  the  tune  which  he  whistled 
so  often  ? " 

"  It  has  been  running  in  my  head  the  whole  night,  and  I 
have  been  trying  it  all  the  way  as  I  pulled  here.  I  think 
I  have  it  exact.     Hear,  sir," — I  whistled  the  two  bars. 

"  Quite  correct,  Jacob,  quite  correct ;  well  take  care  not 
to  forget  them.     Where  are  you  going  to-day  .'' " 

"  No  where,  sir." 

"  Suppose,  then,  you  pull  up  the  river,  and  find  out  the 
place  where  we  landed,  and  when  you  have  ascertained 
that,  you  can  go  on  and  see  whether  the  young  man  is 
with  the  skiff  J  at  all  events,  you  may  find  out  something 
— but  pray  be  cautious." 

I  promised  to  be  very  careful,  and  departed  on  my 
errand,  which  I  undertook  with  much  pleasure,  for  I  was 
delighted  with  anything  like  adventure.  I  pulled  up  the 
river,  and,  in  about  an  hour  and  a  quarter,  came  abreast  of 
the  spot.  I  recognised  the  cottage  ornee,  the  parapet  wall, 
even  the  spot  where  we  lay,  and  perceived  that  several 
bricks  were  detached  and  had  fallen  into  the  river.  There 
appeared  to  be  no  one  stirring  in  the  house,  yet  I  con- 
tinued to  pull  up  and  down,  looking  at  the  windows  :  at 
last  one  opened,  and  a  young  lady  looked  out,  who,  I 
was  persuaded,  was  the  same  that  we  had  seen  the  night 
before.  There  was  no  wind,  and  all  was  quiet  around. 
She  sat  at  the  window,  leaning  her  head  on  her  hand. 
I  whistled  the  two  bars  of  the  air.  At  the  first  bar  she 
started  up,  and  looked  earnestly  at  me  as  I  completed  the 
second.  I  looked  up ;  she  waved  her  handkerchief  once, 
and  then  shut  the  window.  In  a  few  seconds  she  made 
her  appearance  on  the  lawn,  walking  down  towards  the 
river.  I  immediately  pulled  in  under  the  wall.  I  laid  in 
my  sculls,  and  held  on,  standing  up  in  the  boat. 


304  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Who  are  you  ?  and  who  sent  you  ?  "  said  she,  looking 
down  on  me,  and  discovering  one  of  the  most  beautiful  faces 
I  had  ever  beheld. 

"  No  one  sent  me,  ma'am,"  replied  I,  "  but  I  was  in  the 
boat  last  night.  I  am  sorry  you  were  so  unfortunate,  but 
your  box  and  cloak  are  quite  safe." 

**  You  were  one  of  the  men  in  the  boat.  I  trust  no  one 
was  hurt  when  they  fired  at  you  ? " 

"  No,  ma'am." 

"  And  where  is  the  box  ? " 

"  In  the  house  of  the  person  who  was  with  me." 

*'  Can  he  be  trusted  ?  For  they  will  offer  large  rewards 
for  it." 

"I  should  think  so,  ma'am,"  replied  I,  smiling;  "the 
person  who  was  with  me  is  a  gentleman  of  large  fortune, 
who  was  amusing  himself  on  the  river.  H,e  desires  me  to 
say  that  he  will  not  give  up  the  box  until  he  knows  to 
whom  the  contents  legally  belong." 

"  Good  heavens,  how  fortunate  !    Am  I  to  believe  you  ? " 

"  I  should  hope  so,  ma'am." 

"  And  what  are  you,  then  ?     You  are  not  a  waterman  ? " 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  I  am." 

She  paused,  looked  earnestly  at  me  for  a  little  while, 
and  then  continued,  "  How  did  you  learn  the  air  you 
whistled  ?  " 

"  The  young  gentleman  whistled  it  six  or  seven  times 
last  night  before  you  came.  I  tried  it  this  morning  coming 
up,  as  I  thought  it  would  be  the  means  of  attracting  your 
attention.     Can  I  be  of  any  service  to  you,  ma'am  ?  " 

**  Service — yes,  if  I  could  be  sure  you  were  to  be  trusted 
— of  the  greatest  service.  I  am  confined  here — cannot  send 
a  letter — watched  as  I  move — only  allowed  the  garden,  and 
even  watched  while  I  walk  here.  They  are  most  of  them  in 
quest  of  the  tin-box  to-day,  or  I  should  not  be  able  to  talk 
to  you  so  long."  She  looked  round  at  the  house  anxiously, 
and  then  said,  "Stop  here  a  minute,  while  I  walk  a  little." 
She  then  retreated,  and  paced  up  and  down  the  garden 
walk.     I  still  remained  under  the  wall,  so  as  not  to  be  per-^ 


Jacob  Faithful  305 

ceived  from  the  house.  In  about  three  or  four  minutes  she 
returned  and  said,  "  It  would  be  very  cruel — it  would  be 
more  than  cruel — it  would  be  very  wicked  of  you  to 
deceive  me,  for  I  am  very  unfortunate  and  very  unhappy." 
The  tears  started  in  her  eyes.  "  You  do  not  look  as  if  you 
would.     What  is  your  name  ? " 

"Jacob  Faithful,  ma'am,  and  I  will  be  true  to  my  name, 
if  you  will  put  your  trust  in  me.  I  never  deceived  anyone 
that  I  can  recollect ;  and  I'm  sure  I  would  not  you — now 
that  I've  seen  you." 

"  Yes,  but  money  will  seduce  everybody." 

"  Not  me,  ma'am ;  I've  as  much  as  I  wish  for." 

"Well,  then,  I  will  trust  you,  and  think  you  sent  from 
Heaven  to  my  aid ;  but  how  am  I  to  see  you  .''  To-morrow 
my  uncle  will  be  back,  and  then  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
speak  to  you  one  moment,  and  if  seen  to  speak  to  you,  you 
will  be  laid  in  wait  for,  and  perhaps  shot." 

"  Well,  ma'am,  "replied  I,  after  a  pause,  **  if  you  cannot 
speak,  you  can  write.  You  see  that  the  bricks  on  the 
parapet  are  loose  here.  Put  your  letter  under  this  brick — 
I  can  take  it  away  even  in  day-time,  without  being 
noticed,  and  can  put  the  answer  in  the  same  place,  so  that 
you  can  secure  it  when  you  come  out." 

"  How  very  clever  !  Good  Heavens,  what  an  excellent 
idea !  " 

"  Was  the  young  gentleman  hurt,  ma'am,  in  the  scuffle 
last  night  ?  "  inquired  I. 

"  No,  I  believe  not  much,  but  I  wish  to  know  where  he 
is,  to  write  to  him ;  could  you  find  out  ?  "  I  told  her  where 
we  had  met  him,  and  what  had  passed.  "  That  was  Lady 
Auburn's,"  replied  she;  **he  is  often  there — she  is  our 
cousin ;  but  I  don't  know  where  he  lives,  and  how  to  find 
him  I  know  not.  His  name  is  William  WharnclifFe.  Do 
you  think  you  could  find  him  out  ? " 

"  Yes,  ma'am,  with  a  little  trouble  it  might  be  done. 
They  ought  to  know  where  he  is  at  Lady  Auburn's." 

"  Yes,  some  of  the  servants  might — but  how  will  you 
get  to  them  ?  " 

J.F.  u 


3o6  Jacob  Faithful 

"  That,  ma'am,  I  must  find  out.  It  may  not  be  done  in 
one  day,  or  two  days,  but  if  you  will  look  every  morning 
under  this  brick,  if  there  is  anything  to  communicate  you 
will  find  it  there." 

"  You  can  write  and  read  then  ?  " 

"I  should  hope  so,  ma'am,"  replied  I,  laughing. 

"  I  don't  know  what  to  make  of  you.  Are  you  really  a 
waterman  ? " 

"  Really,  and "     She  turned  her  head  round  at  the 

noise  of  a  window  opening. 

"  You  must  go — don't  forget  the  bricks  ; "  and  she  dis- 
appeared. 

I  shoved  my  wherry  along  by  the  side  of  the  wall,  so  as 
to  remain  unperceived  until  I  was  clear  of  the  frontage 
attached  to  the  cottage ;  and  then,  taking  my  sculls,  pulled 
into  the  stream  ;  and  as  I  was  resolved  to  see  if  I  could 
obtain  any  information  at  Lady  Auburn's,  I  had  to  pass  the 
garden  again,  having  shoved  my  boat  down  the  river  instead 
of  up,  when  I  was  under  the  wall.  I  perceived  the  young 
lady  walking  with  a  tall  man  by  her  side  ;  he  speaking  very 
energetically,  and  using  much  gesticulation,  she  holding 
down  her  head.  In  another  minute  they  were  shut  out 
from  my  sight.  I  was  so  much  stricken  with  the  beauty 
and  sweetness  of  expression  in  the  young  lady's  countenance 
that  I  was  resolved  to  use  my  best  exertions  to  be  of  service 
to  her.  In  about  an  hour  and  a  half,  I  had  arrived  at  the 
villa,  abreast  of  which  we  had  met  the  young  gentleman, 
and  which  the  young  lady  had  told  me  belonged  to  Lady 
Auburn.  I  could  see  no  one  in  the  grounds,  nor  indeed  in 
the  house.  After  watching  a  few  minutes,  I  landed  as  near 
to  the  villa  as  I  could,  made  fast  the  wherry,  and  walked 
round  to  the  entrance.  There  was  no  lodge,  but  a  servant's 
door  at  one  side.  I  pulled  the  bell,  having  made  up  my 
mind  how  to  proceed  as  I  was  walking  up.  The  bell  was 
answered  by  an  old  woman,  who,  in  a  snarling  tone,  asked 
me  "  what  did  I  want  ? " 

"I  am  waiting  below,  with  my  boat,  for  Mr  Wharn- 
cliife ;  has  he  come  yet  ?  " 


Jacob  Faithful  307 

"  Mr  WharnclifFe  !  No — he's  not  come ;  nor  did  he  say 
that  he  would  come  ;  when  did  you  see  him  ? " 

*'  Yesterday.     Is  Lady  Auburn  at  home  ? " 

**Lady  Auburn — no;  she  went  to  town  this  morning; 
everybody  goes  to  London  now,  that  they  may  not  see  the 
flowers  and  green  trees,  I  suppose." 

"  But  I  suppose  Mr  WharnclifFe  will  come,"  continued  I, 
"  so  I  must  wait  for  him." 

"  You  can  do  just  as  you  like,"  replied  the  old  woman, 
about  to  shut  the  gate  in  my  face. 

"  May  I  request  a  favour  of  you,  ma'am,  before  you  shut 
the  gate — which  is,  to  bring  me  a  little  water  to  drink,  for 
the  sun  is  hot,  and  I  have  had  a  long  pull  up  here : "  and  I 
took  out  my  handkerchief  and  wiped  my  face. 

"  Yes,  I'll  fetch  you  some,"  replied  she,  shutting  the 
gate,  and  going  away. 

"This  don't  seem  to  answer  very  well,"  thought  I  to 
myself.  The  old  woman  returned,  opened  the  gate,  and 
handed  me  a  mug  of  water.  I  drank  some,  thanked  her, 
and  returned  the  mug. 

*' I  am  very  tired,"  said  I ;  "I  should  like  to  sit  down 
and  wait  for  the  gentleman." 

"Don't  you  sit  down  when  you  pull  ?"  inquired  the  old 
woman. 

"  Yes,"  replied  L 

"  Then  you  must  be  tired  of  sitting,  I  should  think,  not 
of  standing  -,  at  ail  events,  if  you  want  to  sit,  you  can  sit  in 
your  boat,  and  mind  it  at  the  same  time."  With  this 
observation  she  shut  the  door  upon  me,  and  left  me  without 
any  more  comment. 

After  this  decided  repulse  on  the  part  of  the  old  woman, 
I  had  nothing  to  do  but  to  take  her  advice,  viz.,  to  go  and 
look  after  my  boat.  I  pulled  down  to  Mr  Turnbull's,  and 
told  him  my  good  and  bad  fortune.  It  being  late,  he 
ordered  me  some  dinner  in  his  study,  and  we  sat  there  can- 
vassing over  the  affair.  "  Well,"  said  he,  as  we  finished, 
"  you  must  allow  me  to  consider  this  as  my  affair,  Jacob, 
as  I  was  the  occasion  of  our  getting  mixed  up  in  it.     You 


3o8  Jacob  Faithful 

must  do  all  that  you  can  to  find  this  young  man,  and  I  shall 
hire  Stapleton's  boat  by  the  day  until  we  succeed ;  you 
need  not  tell  him  so,  or  he  may  be  anxious  to  know  why. 
To-morrow  you  go  down  to  old  Beazeley's  ? " 

*'  Yes,  sir ;  you  cannot  hire  me  to-morrow." 

"  Still  I  shall,  as  I  want  to  see  you  to-morrow  morning 
before  you  go.  Here's  Stapleton's  money  for  yesterday  and 
to-day,  and  now  good-night." 

I  was  at  Mr  TurnbuU's  early  the  next  morning,  and 
found  him  with  the  newspaper  before  him.  "I  expected 
this,  Jacob,"  said  he :  **  read  that  advertisement."  I  read 
as  follows  : — "  Whereas,  on  Friday  night  last,  between  the 
hours  of  nine  and  ten,  a  tin-box,  containing  deeds  and  papers, 
was  handed  into  a  wherry,  from  the  grounds  of  a  villa  be- 
tween Brentford  and  Kew,  and  the  parties  who  owned  it 
were  prevented  from  accompanying  the  same.  This  is  to 
give  notice,  that  a  reward  of  twenty  pounds  will  be  paid  to 
the  watermen,  upon  their  delivering  up  the  same  to  Messrs 
James  and  John  White,  of  No.  14,  Lincoln's  Inn  Fields. 
As  no  other  parties  are  authorised  to  receive  the  said  tin- 
box  of  papers,  all  other  applications  for  it  must  be  dis- 
regarded. An  early  attention  to  this  advertisement  will 
oblige." 

"  There  must  be  papers  of  no  little  consequence  in  that 
box,  Jacob,  depend  upon  it,"  said  Mr  Turnbull ;  "  how- 
ever, here  they  are,  and  here  they  shall  remain  until  I 
know  more  about  it ;  that's  certain.  I  intend  to  try  what 
I  can  do  myself  with  the  old  woman,  for  I  perceive  the 
villa  is  to  be  let  for  three  months — here  is  the  advertise- 
ment in  the  last  column.  I  shall  go  to  town  to-day,  and 
obtain  a  ticket  from  the  agent,  and  it  is  hard  but  I'll  ferret 
out  something.  I  shall  see  you  to-morrow.  Now  you 
may  go,  Jacob." 

I  hastened  away,  as  I  had  promised  to  be  down  to  old 
Tom's  to  breakfast :  an  hour's  smart  pulling  brought  me 
to  the  landing-place,  opposite  to  his  house. 


Jacob  Faithful  309 


Chapter  XXXIII 

A  ten-pound  householder  occupied  with  affairs  of  State— the  advantage  of 
the  word  "  implication  " — An  unexpected  meeting  and  a  reconciliation 
— Resolution  versus  bright  black  eyes— Verdict  for  the  defendant,  with 
heavy  damages. 

The  house  of  old  Tom  Beazeley  was  situated  on  the  verge 
of  Battersea  Fields,  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  the 
bridge  bearing  the  same  name ;  the  river  about  twenty 
yards  before  it — the  green  grass  behind  it,  and  not  a  tree 
within  half  a  mile  of  it.  There  was  nothing  picturesque 
in  it  but  its  utter  loneliness ;  it  was  not  only  lonely  but 
isolated,  for  it  was  fixed  upon  a  delta  of  about  half  an 
acre,  between  two  creeks,  which  joined  at  about  forty 
yards  from  the  river,  and  ran  up  through  the  fields,  so 
that  the  house  was,  at  high  water,  upon  an  island,  and  at 
low  water  was  defended  by  an  impassable  barrier  of  mud, 
so  that  the  advances  to  it  could  be  made  only  from  the 
river,  where  a  small  hard,  edged  with  posts  worn  down  to 
the  conformation  of  decayed  double-teeth,  offered  the  only 
means  of  access.  The  house  itself  was  one  story  high ; 
dark  red  bricks,  and  darker  tiles  upon  the  roof;  windows 
very  scarce  and  very  small,  although  built  long  before  the 
damnable  tax  upon  light,  for  it  was  probably  built  in  the 
time  of  Elizabeth,  to  judge  by  the  peculiarity  of  the  style 
of  architecture  observable  in  the  chimneys ;  but  it  matters 
very  little  at  what  epoch  was  built  a  tenement  which  was 
rented  at  only  ten  pounds  per  annum.  The  major  part  of 
the  said  island  was  stocked  with  cabbage  plants ;  but  on 
one  side  there  was  half  a  boat  set  upright,  with  a  patch  of 
green  before  it.  At  the  time  that  old  Beazeley  hired  it, 
there  was  a  bridge,  rudely  constructed  of  old  ship  plank, 
by  which  you  could  gain  a  path  which  led  across  the 
Battersea  Fields ;  but  as  all  the  communications  of  old 
Tom  were  by  water,  and  Mrs  Beazeley  never  ventured 
over  the  bridge,  it  was  gradually  knocked  away  for  fire- 


3IO  Jacob  Faithful 

wood,  and  when  it  was  low-water,  one  old  post,  redolent 
of  mud,  marked  the  spot  where  the  bridge  had  been.  The 
interior  was  far  more  inviting ;  Mrs  Beazeley  was  a  clean 
person  and  frugal  housewife,  and  every  article  in  the 
kitchen,  which  was  the  first  room  you  entered,  was  as  clean 
and  as  bright  as  industry  could  make  it.  There  was  a 
parlour  also,  seldom  used ;  both  of  the  inmates,  when  they 
did  meet,  which  was  not  above  a  day  or  two  in  three 
weeks,  during  the  time  that  old  Beazeley  was  in  charge  of 
the  lighter,  preferring  comfort  to  grandeur.  In  this 
isolated  house,  upon  this  isolated  spot,  did  Mrs  Beazeley 
pass  a  life  of  almost  isolation. 

And  yet,  perhaps,  there  never  was  a  more  lively  or  a 
more  happy  woman  than  Mrs  Beazeley,  for  she  was 
strong  and  in  good  health,  and  always  employed.  She 
knew  that  her  husband  was  following  up  his  avocation  on 
the  river,  and  laying  by  a  provision  for  their  old  age,  while 
she  herself  was  adding  considerably  to  it  by  her  own 
exertions.  She  had  married  old  Tom  long  before  he  had 
lost  his  legs,  at  a  time  when  he  was  a  prime  active  sailor, 
and  the  best  man  of  the  ship.  She  was  a  net-maker's 
daughter,  and  had  been  brought  up  to  the  business,  at 
which  she  was  very  expert.  The  most  difficult  part  of 
the  art  is  that  of  making  large  semes  for  taking  sea-fish ; 
and  when  she  had  no  order  for  those  to  complete,  the 
making  of  casting-nets  beguiled  away  her  time  as  soon  as 
her  household  cares  had  been  disposed  of.  She  made 
money  and  husbanded  it,  not  only  for  herself  and  her 
partner,  but  for  her  son,  young  Tom,  upon  whom  she  doted. 
So  accustomed  was  she  to  work  hard  and  be  alone,  that  it 
was  difficult  to  say  whether  she  was  most  pleased  or  most 
annoyed  when  her  husband  and  son  made  their  appearance 
for  a  day  or  two,  and  the  latter  was  alternately  fondled 
and  scolded  during  the  whole  of  his  sojourn ;  Tom,  as 
the  reader  may  suppose  from  a  knowledge  of  his  character, 
caring  about  as  much  for  the  one  as  the  other. 

I  pulled  into  the  hard,  and  made  fast  my  boat.     There 
was  no  one  outside  the  door  when  I  landed ;  on  entering. 


Jacob  Faithful  3 1 1 

I  found  them  all  seated  at  the  table,  and  a  grand  display 
of  fragments,  in  the  shape  of  herring-bones,  &c.  "Well, 
Jacob — come  at  last — thought  you  had  forgot  us  j  piped 
to  breakfast  at  eight  bells — always  do,  you  know,"  said 
old  Tom,  on  my  making  my  appearance. 

"  Have  you  had  your  breakfast,  Jacob  ? "  said  Mrs 
Beazeley. 

"  No,"  replied  I ;  "I  was  obliged  to  go  up  to  Mr 
Turnbull's,  and  that  detained  me." 

"No  more  sodgers,  Jacob,"  said  Tom;  "father  and  I 
eat  them  all." 

"Have  you?"  replied  Mrs  Beazeley,  taking  two  more 
red  herrings  out  of  the  cupboard,  and  putting  them  on  the 
fire  to  grill;  "no,  no,  master  Tom,  there's  some  for  Jacob 
yet." 

"Well,  mother,  you  make  nets  to  some  purpose,  for 
you've  always  a  fish  when  it's  wanted." 

I  despatched  my  breakfast,  and  as  soon  as  all  had  been 
cleared  away  by  his  wife,  old  Tom,  crossing  his  two  timber 
legs,  commenced  business,  for  it  appeared,  what  I  was  not 
aware  of,  that  we  had  met  on  a  sort  of  council  of  war. 

"Jacob,  sit  down  by  me;  old  woman,  bring  yourself 
to  an  anchor  in  the  high  chair ;  Tom,  sit  anywhere,  so  you 
sit  still." — "  And  leave  my  net  alone,  Tom,"  cried  his 
mother,  in  parenthesis. — "  You  see,  Jacob,  the  whole  long 
and  short  of  it  is  this,  I  feel  my  toes  more  and  more,  and 
flannel's  no  longer  warm.  I  can't  tide  it  any  longer,  and 
I  think  it  high  time  to  lie  up  in  ordinary  and  moor  abreast 
of  the  old  woman.  Now,  there's  Tom,  in  the  first  place, 
what's  to  do  with  he .''  I  think  that  I'll  build  him  a 
wherry,  and  as  I'm  free  of  the  river,  he  can  finish  his 
apprenticeship  with  my  name  on  the  boat ;  but  to  build 
him  a  wherry  would  be  rather  a  heavy  pull  for  me," 

"If  you  mean  to  build  it  yourself,  I  think  it  will  prove 
a  heavy  pull  for  me,"  replied  Tom. 

"Silence,  Tom;  I  built  you,  and  God  knows  you're 
light  enough." 

"  And  Tom,  leave  my  net  alone,"  cried  his  mother. 


312  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Father  made  me  light-fingered,  mother." 

"  Ay,  and  light-hearted  too,  boy,"  rejoined  the  dame, 
looking  fondly  at  her  son. 

"Well,"  continued  old  Tom,  "supposing  that  Tom  be 
provided  for  in  that  way;  then  now  I  comes  to  myself. 
I've  an  idea  that  I  can  do  a  good  bit  of  work  in  patching 
up  boats ;  for  you  see  I  always  was  a  bit  of  a  carpenter, 
and  I  know  how  the  builders  extortionate  the  poor  water- 
men when  there's  a  trifle  amiss.  Now,  if  they  knew  I 
could  do  it,  they'd  all  come  to  me  fast  enough ;  but  then 
there's  a  puzzle ;  Fve  been  thinking  this  week  how  I  can 
make  them  know  it.  I  can't  put  out  a  board  and  say, 
Beazeley,  Boat-builder,  because  I'm  no  boat-builder,  but 
still  I  want  a  sign." 

"  Lord,  father,  hav'n't  you  got  one  already  ? "  interrupted 
young  Tom ;  "  you've  half  a  boat  stuck  up  there,  and 
that  means  that  you're  half  a  boat-builder." 

"  Silence,  Tom,  with  your  frippery  ;  what  do  you  think, 
Jacob.?" 

**  Could  you  not  say,  *  Boats  repaired  here  '  ? " 

"  Yes,  but  that  won't  exactly  do ;  they  like  to  employ 
a  builder — and  there's  the  puzzle." 

"Not  half  so  puzzling  as  this  net,"  observed  Tom, 
who  had  taken  up  the  needle,  unobserved  by  his  mother, 
and  begun  to  work  j  "  I've  made  only  ten  stitches,  and 
six  of  them  are  long  ones." 

"Tom,  Tom,  you  good-for-nothing — why  don't  you 
let  my  net  alone .? "  cried  Mrs  Beazeley ;  "  now  'twill 
take  me  as  much  time  to  undo  ten  stitches  as  to  have  made 
fifty." 

"  All  right,  mother." 

"  No,  Tom,  all's  wrong  ;  look  at  these  meshes  .'"' 

"  Well,  then,  all's  fair,  mother." 

"  No,  all's  foul,  boy  ;  look  how  it's  tangled." 

"  Still,  I  say,  all's  fair,  mother,  for  it  is  but  fair  to  give 
the  fish  one  or  two  chances  to  get  away,  and  that's  just 
what  I've  done  j  and  now,  father,  I'll  settle  your  affair 
to  your  own  satisfaction,  as  I  have  mother's." 


Jacob  Faithful  313 

"  That  will  be  queer  satisfaction,  Tom,  I  guess  j  but 
let's  hear  what  you  have  to  say." 

"Why,  then,  father,  it  seems,  that  you're  no  boat- 
builder,  but  you  want  people  to  fancy  that  you  are — a'n't 
that  the  question  ? " 

"Why,  'tis  something  like  it,  Tom,  but  I  do  nobody 
no  harm." 

**  Certainly  not ;  it's  only  the  boats  which  will  suffer. 
Now,  get  a  large  board,  with  *  Boats  built  to  order,  and 
boats  repaired,  by  Tom  Beazeley.'  You  know  if  any  man 
is  fool  enough  to  order  a  boat,  that's  his  concern ;  you 
didn't  say  you're  a  boat  builder,  although  you  have  no 
objection  to  try  your  hand." 

**  What  do  you  say,  Jacob  ^ "  said  old  Tom,  appealing 
to  me. 

"I  think  that  Tom  has  given  very  good  advice,  and  I 
would  follow  it." 

"  Ah !  Tom  has  a  head,"  said  Mrs  Beazeley,  fondly. 
"  Tom,  let  go  my  net  again,  will  you  }  What  a  boy  you 
are !  Now  touch  it  again  if  you  dare,"  and  Mrs  Beazeley 
took  up  a  little  poker  from  the  fire-place  and  shook  it 
at  him. 

"  Tom  has  a  head,  indeed,"  said  young  Tom,  "  but  as 
he  has  no  wish  to  have  it  broken,  Jacob,  lend  me  your 
wherry  for  half  an  hour,  and  I'll  be  off." 

I  assented,  and  Tom,  first  tossing  the  cat  upon  his 
mother's  back,  made  his  escape,  crying, 

"  Lord,  Molly,  what  a  fish," 

as  the  animal  fixed  in  its  claws  to  save  herself  from  falling, 
making  Mrs  Beazeley  roar  out  and  vow  vengeance,  while 
old  Tom  and  I  could  not  refrain  from  laughter. 

After  Tom's  departure,  the  conversation  was  renewed, 
and  everything  was  finally  arranged  between  old  Tom  and 
his  wife,  except  the  building  of  the  wherry,  at  which  the 
old  woman  shook  her  head.  The  debate  would  be  too 
long,  and  not  sufficiently  interesting  to  detail ;  one  part, 
however,  I  must  make  the  reader  acquainted  with.     After 


314  Jacob  Faithful 

entering  into  all  the  arrangements  of  the  house,  Mrs 
Beazeley  took  me  upstairs  to  show  me  the  rooms,  which 
were  very  neat  and  clean.  I  came  down  with  her,  and 
old  Tom  said,  "  Did  the  old  woman  show  you  the  room 
with  the  white  curtains,  Jacob  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  I,  "  and  a  very  nice  one  it  is." 

"Well,  Jacob,  there's  nothing  sure  in  this  world. 
You're  well  off  at  present,  and  '  leave  well  alone '  is  a 
good  motto ;  but  recollect  this,  that  room  is  for  you  when 
you  want  it,  and  everything  else  we  can  share  with  you. 
It's  offered  freely,  and  you  will  accept  it  the  same.  Is 
it  not,  old  lady  ?  " 

"  Yes,  that  it  is,  Jacob ;  but  may  you  do  better — if 
not,  I'll  be  your  mother  for  want  of  a  better." 

I  was  moved  with  the  kindness  of  the  old  couple ;  the 
more  so  as  I  did  not  know  what  I  had  done  to  deserve 
it.  Old  Tom  gave  me  a  hearty  squeeze  of  the  hand,  and 
then  continued ;  "  But  about  this  wherry — what  do  you 
say,  old  woman  ? " 

"What  will  it  cost  ?"  replied  she,  gravely. 

*'  Cost ;  let  me  see, — a  good  wherry  with  sculls  and 
oars,  will  be  a  matter  of  thirty  pounds." 

The  old  woman  screwed  up  her  mouth,  shook  her 
head,  and  then  walked  away  to  prepare  for  dinner. 

"I  think  she  could  muster  the  blunt,  Jacob,  but  she 
don't  like  to  part  with  it.  Tom  must  coax  her.  I  wish 
he  hadn't  shied  the  cat  at  her.     He's  too  full  of  fun." 

As  old  Beazeley  finished,  I  perceived  a  wherry  pulling 
in  with  some  ladies.  I  looked  attentively,  and  recognised 
my  own  boat,  and  Tom  pulling.  In  a  minute  more  they 
were  at  the  hard,  and  who,  to  my  astonishment,  were 
there  seated,  but  Mrs  Drummond  and  Sarah.  As  Tom 
got  out  of  the  boat  and  held  it  steady  against  the  hard, 
he  called  to  mej  I  could  not  do  otherwise  than  go  and 
assist  them  out ;  and  once  more  did  I  touch  the  hands 
of  those  whom  I  never  thought  to  meet  again.  Mrs 
Drummond  retained  my  hand  a  short  time  after  she  landed, 
saying,  "  We  are  friends,  Jacob,  are  we  not .? " 


Jacob  Faithful  315 

"  O,  yes,  madam,"  replied  I,  much  moved,  in  a  faltering 
voice. 

**  I  shall  not  ask  that  question,"  said  Sarah,  gaily,  *'  for 
we  parted  friends." 

And  as  I  recalled  to  mind  her  affectionate  behaviour,  I 
pressed  her  hand,  and  the  tears  glistened  in  my  eyes  as 
I  looked  into  her  sweet  face.  As  I  afterwards  discovered, 
this  was  an  arranged  plan  with  old  and  young  Tom,  to 
bring  about  a  meeting  without  my  knowledge.  Mrs 
Beazeley  courtesied  and  stroked  her  apron — smiled  at 
the  ladies,  looked  very  cat-tish  at  Tom,  showed  the  ladies 
into  the  house,  where  old  Tom  assisted  to  do  the  honours 
after  his  own  fashion,  by  asking  Mrs  Drummond  if  she 
would  like  to  ivhet  her  nvhistle  after  her  pull.  Mrs 
Drummond  looked  round  to  me  for  explanation,  but 
young  Tom  thought  proper  to  be  interpreter.  "  Father 
wants  to  know,  if  you  please,  ma'am,  whether,  after  your 
pull  in  the  boat,  you  wouldn't  like  to  have  a  pull  at  the 
brandy  bottle  ? " 

"  No,"  replied  Mrs  Drummond,  smiling  \  "  but  I  should 
be  obliged  for  a  glass  of  water.  Will  you  get  me  one, 
Jacob  ? " 

I  hastened  to  comply,  and  Mrs  Drummond  entered  into 
conversation  with  Mrs  Beazeley.  Sarah  looked  at  me,  and 
went  to  the  door,  turning  back  as  inviting  me  to  follow. 
I  did  so,  and  we  soon  found  ourselves  seated  on  the  bench 
in  the  old  boat. 

"  Jacob,"  said  she,  looking  earnestly  at  me,  "  you  surely 
will  be  friends  with  my  father  ? " 

I  think  I  should  have  shaken  my  head,  but  she  laid  an 
emphasis  on  my,  which  the  little  gipsy  knew  would  have 
its  effect.  All  my  resolutions,  all  my  pride,  all  my  sense 
of  injury  vanished  before  the  mild,  beautiful  eyes  of  Sarah, 
and  I  replied  hastily,  "  Yes,  Miss  Sarah,  I  can  refuse  you 
nothing." 

"  Why,  Miss,  Jacob  ? " 

*'  I  am  a  waterman,  and  you  are  much  above  me." 

"  That  is  your  own  fault ;  but  say  no  more  about  it." 


3i6  Jacob  Faithful 

"I  must  say  something  more,  which  is  this:  do  not 
attempt  to  make  me  leave  my  present  employment  j  I  am 
happy,  because  I  am  independent ;  and  that  I  will,  if 
possible,  be  for  the  future." 

"  Any  one  can  pull  an  oar,  Jacob." 

"  Very  true.  Miss  Sarah,  and  is  under  no  obligation  to 
any  one  by  so  earning  his  livelihood.  He  works  for  all, 
and  is  paid  for  all." 

"  Will  you  come  and  see  us,  Jacob  ?  Come  to-morrow 
— now  do — promise  me.  Will  you  refuse  your  old  play- 
mate, Jacob  ? " 

*'  I  wish  you  would  not  ask  that." 

•*How  then  can  you  say  that  you  are  friends  with  my 
father  ?  I  will  not  believe  you  unless  you  promise  to 
come." 

"Sarah,"  replied  I,  earnestly,  "I  will  come;  and  to 
prove  to  you  that  we  are  friends,  I  will  ask  a  favour  of 
him." 

"  Oh,  Jacob,  this  is  kind,  indeed,"  cried  Sarah,  with  her 
eyes  swimming  with  tears.  "  You  have  made  me  so — so 
very  happy." 

The  meeting  with  Sarah  humanised  me,  and  every  feeling 
of  revenge  was  chased  from  my  memory.  Mrs  Drummond 
joined  us  soon  after,  and  proposed  to  return.  "  And  Jacob 
will  pull  us  back,"  cried  Sarah.  "  Come,  sir,  look  after 
your  fare,  in  both  senses.  Since  you  will  be  a  waterman, 
you  shall  work."  I  laughed,  and  handed  them  to  the 
boat.  Tom  took  the  other  oar,  and  we  were  soon  at  the 
steps  close  to  Mr  Drummond's  house. 

*'  Mamma,  we  ought  to  give  these  poor  fellows  some- 
thing to  drink  ;  they've  worked  very  hard,"  said  Sarah, 
mocking.  "  Come  up,  my  good  men."  I  hesitated. 
*'  Nay,  Jacob,  if  to-morrow,  why  not  to-day  ?  The 
sooner  these  things  are  over  the  better." 

I  felt  the  truth  of  this  observation,  and  followed  her. 
In  a  few  minutes  I  was  again  in  that  parlour  in  which 
I  had  been  dismissed,  and  in  which  the  affectionate 
girl  burst  into  tears  on  my  shoulder,  as  I  held  the  handle 


Jacob  Faithful  317 

of  the  door.  I  looked  at  it,  and  looked  at  Sarah.  Mrs 
Drummond  had  gone  out  of  the  room  to  let  Mr  Drummond 
know  that  I  had  come.  *'  How  kind  you  were,  Sarah  !  " 
said  I. 

"  Yes,  but  kind  people  are  cross  sometimes,  and  so  am 
I — and  so  was " 

Mr  Drummond  came  in,  and  stopped  her.  "  Jacob,  I 
am  glad  to  see  you  again  in  my  house  ;  I  was  deceived  by 
appearances,  and  did  you  injustice." 

How  true  is  the  observation  of  the  wise  man,  that  a  soft 
word  turneth  away  wrath  ;  that  Mr  Drummond  should 
personally  acknowledge  that  he  was  wrong  to  me — that  he 
should  confess  it — every  feeling  of  resentment  was  gone, 
and  others  crowded  in  their  place.  I  recollected  how  he 
had  protected  the  orphan — how  he  had  provided  him  with 
instruction — how  he  had  made  his  house  a  home  to  me — 
how  he  had  tried  to  bring  me  forward  under  his  own 
protection.  I  recollected — which,  alas  !  I  never  should 
have  forgotten — that  he  had  treated  me  for  years  with 
kindness  and  affection,  all  of  which  had  been  obliterated 
from  my  memory  by  one  single  act  of  injustice.  I  felt  that 
I  was  a  culprit,  and  burst  into  tears  ;  and  Sarah,  as  before, 
cried  in  sympathy. 

"  I  beg  your  pardon,  Mr  Drummond,"  said  I,  as  soon  as 
I  could  speak;  "I  have  been  very  wrong  in  being  so 
revengeful  after  so  much  kindness  from  you." 

"  "We  both  have  been  wrong — but  say  no  more  on  the 
subject,  Jacob  ;  I  have  an  order  to  give,  and  then  I  will 
come  up  to  you  again  ; "  and  Mr  Drummond  quitted  the 
room. 

*'  You  dear,  good  boy,"  said  Sarah,  coming  up  to  me. 
"  Now,  I  really  do  love  you." 

What  I  might  have  replied  was  put  a  stop  to  by  Mrs 
Drummond  entering  the  room.  She  made  a  few  inquiries 
about  where  I  at  present  resided,  and  Sarah  was  catechising 
me  rather  inquisitively  about  Mary  Stapleton,  when  Mr 
Drummond  re-entered  the  room,  and  shook  me  by  the 
hand  with  a  warmth  which  made  me  more  ashamed  of  my 


3i8  Jacob  Faithful 

conduct  towards  him.  The  conversation  became  general, 
but  still  rather  embarrassed^  when  Sarah  whispered  to  me, 
— "What  is  the  favour  you  would  ask  of  my  father?" 
I  had  forgotten  it  at  the  moment,  but  I  immediately  told 
him  that  I  would  be  obliged  if  he  would  allow  me  to  have 
a  part  of  the  money  belonging  to  me  which  he  held  in  his 
possession. 

"That  I  will,  with  pleasure,  and  without  asking  what 
you  intend  to  do  with  it,  Jacob.  How  much  do  you 
require  ?  " 

"  Thirty  pounds,  if  there  is  so  much." 

Mr  Drummond  went  down,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
returned  with  the  sum,  in  notes  and  guineas.  I  thanked 
him,  and  shortly  afterwards  took  my  leave. 

"Did  not  young  Beazeley  tell  you  I  had  something  for 
you,  Jacob  ? "  said  Sarah,  as  I  wished  her  good-bye. 

"Yes:  what  is  it?" 

"  You  must  come  and  see,"  replied  Sarah,  laughing. 
Thus  was  a  finale  to  all  my  revenge  brought  about  by  a 
little  girl  of  fifteen  years  old,  with  large  dark  eyes. 

Tom  had  taken  his  glass  of  grog  below,  and  was 
waiting  for  me  at  the  steps.  We  shoved  off,  and  returned 
to  his  father's  house,  where  dinner  was  just  ready.  After 
dinner  old  Tom  recommenced  the  argument.  "The  only 
hitch,"  says  he,  "  is  about  the  wherry.  What  do  you 
say,  old  woman  ? "     The  old  woman  shook  her  head. 

"As  that  is  the  only  hitch,"  said  I,  "I  can  remove  it, 
for  here  is  the  money  for  the  wherry,  which  I  make  a 
present  to  Tom,"  and  I  put  the  money  into  young  Tom's 
hand.  Tom  counted  it  out  before  his  father  and  mother, 
much  to  their  astonishment. 

"You  are  a  good  fellow,  Jacob,"  said  Tomj  "but  I 
say,  do  you  recollect  Wimbledon  Common  ?  " 

"  What  then  ? "  replied  I. 

"  Only  Jerry  Abershaw,  that's  all." 

"  Do  not  be  afraid,  Tom,  it  is  honestly  mine." 

"  But  how  did  you  get  it,  Jacob  ?"  said  old  Tom. 

It  may  appear  strange,  but,  impelled  by  a  wish  to  serve 


I  Jacob  Faithful  319 

my  friends,  I  had  asked  for  the  money  which  I  knew 
belonged  to  me,  but  never  thought  of  the  manner  in 
which  it  had  been  obtained.  The  question  of  old  Tom 
recalled  everything  to  my  memory,  and  I  shuddered  when 
I  recollected  the  circumstances  attending  it.  I  was  con- 
fused and  did  not  like  to  reply.  "  Be  satisfied,  the  money 
is  mine,"  replied  I. 

*'  Yes,  Jacob,  but  how  ? "  replied  Mrs  Beazeley  -, 
"  surely  you  ought  to  be  able  to  tell  how  you  got  so 
large  a  sum." 

"  Jacob  has  some  reason  for  not  telling,  missus,  depend 
upon  it ;  mayhap  Mr  Turnbull,  or  whoever  gave  it  to 
him,  told  him  to  hold  his  tongue."  But  this  answer 
would  not  satisfy  Mrs  Beazeley,  who  declared  she  would 
not  allow  a  farthing  to  be  taken,  unless  she  knew  how 
it  was  obtained. 

"Tom,  give  back  the  money  directly,"  said  she,  looking 
at  me  suspiciously. 

Tom  laid  it  on  the  table  before  me,  without  saying  a 
word.  "Take  it,  Tom,"  said  I,  colouring  up.  "I  had 
it  from  my  mother." 

"  From  your  mother,  Jacob  !  "  said  old  Tom.  *'  Nay, 
that  could  not  well  be,  if  my  memory  sarves  me  right. 
Still  it  may  be." 

*'  Deary  me,  I  don't  like  this  at  all,"  cried  Mrs  Beazeley, 
getting  up,  and  wiping  her  apron  with  a  quick  motion. 
"  O,  Jacob,  that  must  be — not  the  truth." 

I  coloured  up  to  the  tips  of  my  ears,  at  being  suspected 
of  falsehood.  I  looked  round,  and  saw  that  even  Tom 
and  his  father  had  a  melancholy  doubt  in  their  coun- 
tenances ;  and  certainly  my  confused  appearance  would 
have  caused  suspicion  in  anybody.  *'  I  little  thought," 
said  I,  at  last,  *'  when  I  hoped  to  have  so  much  pleasure 
in  giving,  and  to  find  that  I  had  made  you  happy  in 
receiving  the  money,  that  it  would  have  proved  a  source 
of  so  much  annoyance.  I  perceive  that  I  am  suspected 
of  having  obtained  it  improperly,  and  of  not  having  told 
the  truth.     That  Mrs  Beazeley  may  think  so,  who  does 


320  Jacob  Faithful 

not  know  me,  is  not  to  be  wondered  at ;  but  that  you," 
continued  I,  turning  to  old  Tom,  "or  you,"  looking  at 
his  son,  "  should  suspect  me,  is  very  mortifying ;  and  I 
did  not  expect  it.  I  tell  you  that  the  money  is  mine, 
honestly  mine,  and  obtained  from  my  mother.  I  ask  you, 
do  you  believe  me  ? " 

"I,  for  one,  do  believe  you,  Jacob,"  said  young  Tom, 
striking  his  fist  on  the  table.  "I  can't  understand  it, 
but  I  know  you  never  told  a  lie,  or  did  a  dishonourable 
act  since  I've  known  you." 

*'  Thank  you,  Tom,"  said  I,  taking  his  proffered  hand. 

"  And  I  would  swear  the  same,  Jacob,"  said  old  Tom ; 
"  although  I  have  been  longer  in  the  world  than  my  boy 
has,  and  have,  therefore,  seen  morej  and  sorry  am  I  to 
say,  many  a  good  man  turned  bad,  from  temptation  being 
too  great ;  but  when  I  looked  in  your  face,  and  saw  the 
blood  up  to  your  forehead,  I  did  feel  a  little  suspicious, 
I  must  own  j  but  I  beg  your  pardon,  Jacob  j  no  one  can 
look  in  your  face  now,  and  not  see  that  you  are  innocent. 
I  believe  all  you  say,  in  spite  of  the  old  woman  and — the 
devil  to  boot — and  there's  my  hand  upon  it." 

"  Why  not  tell — why  not  tell  ? "  muttered  Mrs  Beazeley, 
shaking  her  head,  and  working  at  her  net  faster  than  ever. 

But  I  had  resolved  to  tell,  and  did  so,  narrating  distinctly 
the  circumstances  by  which  the  money  had  been  obtained. 
I  did  it,  however,  with  feelings  of  mortification  which  I 
cannot  express.  I  felt  humiliated — I  felt  that,  for  my 
own  wants,  that  money  I  never  could  touch.  Still  my 
explanation  had  the  effect  of  removing  the  doubts  even  of 
Mrs  Beazeley,  and  harmony  was  restored.  The  money 
was  accepted  by  the  old  couple,  and  promised  to  be  applied 
for  the  purpose  intended. 

"  As  for  me,  Jacob,"  said  Tom,  "  when  I  say  I  thank 
you,  you  know  I  mean  it.  Had  I  had  the  money,  and  you 
had  wanted  it,  you  will  believe  me  when  I  say  that  I  would 
have  given  it  to  you." 

'*  That  I'm  sure  of,  Tom." 

"Still,  Jacob,  it  is  a  great  deal  of  money ;  and  I  shall 


Jacob  Faithful  321 

lay  by  my  earnings  as  fast  as  I  can,  that  you  may  have  it 
in  case  you  want  it ;  but  it  will  take  many  a  heavy  pull 
and  many  a  shirt  wet  with  labour,  before  I  can  make  up 
a  sum  like  that." 

I  did  not  stay  much  longer  after  this  little  fracas  j  I  was 
hurt — my  pride  was  wounded  by  suspicion,  and  fortunate 
it  was  that  the  occurrence  had  not  taken  place  previous  to 
my  meeting  with  Mrs  Drummond  and  Sarah,  otherwise  no 
reconciliation  would  have  taken  place  in  that  quarter.  How 
much  are  we  the  sport  of  circumstances,  and  how  insensibly 
they  mark  out  our  career  in  this  world !  With  the  best 
intentions  we  go  wrong ;  instigated  by  unworthy  motives, 
we  fall  upon  our  feet,  and  the  chapter  of  accidents  has 
more  power  over  the  best  regulated  mind  than  all  the 
chapters  in  the  Bible. 


Chapter  XXXIV 

How  I  was  revenged  upon  my  enemies — We  try  the  bars  of  music  but  find 
that  we  are  barred  out — Being  no  go,  we  go  back. 

I  SHOOK  hands  with  Tom,  who  perceiving  that  I  was 
vexed,  had  accompanied  me  down  to  the  boat,  with  his 
usual  sympathy,  and  had  offered  to  pull  with  me  to 
Fulham,  and  walk  backj  which  offer  I  declined,  as  I 
wished  to  be  alone.  It  was  a  fine  moonlight  night,  and 
the  broad  light  and  shadow,  with  the  stillness  of  all 
around,  were  peculiarly  adapted  to  my  feelings.  I  con- 
tinued my  way  up  the  river,  revolving  in  my  mind  the 
scenes  of  the  day :  the  reconciliation  with  one  whom  I 
never  intended  to  have  spoken  to  again ;  the  little  quarrel 
with  those  whom  I  never  expected  to  have  been  at  variance 
with,  and  that  at  the  time  when  I  was  only  exerting  myself 
to  serve  them :  and  then  I  thought  of  Sarah,  as  an  oasis  of 
real  happiness  in  this  contemplated  desert,  and  dwelt  upon 
the  thought  of  her  as  the  most  pleasant  and  calming  to  my 
still  agitated  mind.     Thus  did  I  ruminate  till  I  had  passed 

J.F.  X 


32  2  Jacob  Faithful 

Putney  Bridge,  forgetting  that  I  was  close  to  my  landing- 
place,  and  continuing,  in  my  reverie,  to  pull  up  the  river, 
when  my  cogitations  were  disturbed  by  a  noise  of  men 
laughing  and  talking,  apparently  in  a  state  of  intoxication. 
They  were  in  a  four-oared  wherry,  coming  down  the 
river,  after  a  party  of  pleasure,  as  it  is  termed,  generally 
one  ending  in  intoxication.     I  listened. 

"  I  tell  you  I  can  spin  an  oar  with  any  man  in  the  king's 
service,"  said  the  man  in  the  bow.     "Now  look." 

He  threw  his  oar  out  of  the  rollocks,  spun  it  in  the  air, 
but  unfortunately  did  not  catch  it  when  it  fell,  and  con- 
sequently it  went  through  the  bottom,  starting  two  of  the 
planks  of  the  fragile-built  boat,  which  immediately  filled 
with  water. 

"  Hilloa  !  waterman  !  "  cried  another,  perceiving  me, 
"  quick,  or  we  shall  sink."  But  the  boat  was  nearly 
up  to  the  thwarts  in  water  before  I  could  reach  her, 
and  just  as  I  was  nearly  alongside,  she  filled  and  turned 
over. 

"  Help,  waterman  -,  help  me  first ;  I'm  senior  clerk," 
cried  a  voice  which  I  well  knew.  I  put  out  my  oar  to  him 
as  he  struggled  in  the  water,  and  soon  had  him  clinging  to 
the  wherry.  I  then  tried  to  catch  hold  of  the  man  who 
had  sunk  the  boat  by  his  attempt  to  toss  the  oar,  but  he 
very  quietly  said,  "  No,  d — n  it,  there's  too  many  ;  we 
shall  swamp  the  wherry  ;  I'll  swim  on  shore," — and  suiting 
the  action  to  the  word,  he  made  for  the  shore  with  perfect 
self-possession,  swimming  in  his  clothes  with  great  ease 
and  dexterity. 

I  picked  up  two  more,  and  thought  that  all  were  saved, 
when  turning  round  and  looking  towards  the  bridge,  I 
saw  resplendent  in  the  bright  beams  of  the  moon,  and 
**  round  as  its  orb,"  the  well  remembered  face  of  the  stupid 
young  clerk  who  had  been  so  inimical  to  me,  struggling 
with  all  his  might.  I  pulled  to  him,  and  putting  out  my 
oar  over  the  bow,  he  seized  it  after  rising  from  his  first 
sink,  and  was,  with  the  other  three,  soon  clinging  to  the 
side  of  the  wherry. 


Jacob  Faithful  323 

"Pull  me  in — pull  me  in,  waterman  !"  cried  the  head 
clerk,  whose  voice  I  had  recognised. 

"No  ;  you  will  swamp  the  boat." 

"Well,  but  pull  me  in,  if  not  the  others.  I'm  the 
senior  clerk." 

"  Can't  help  that ;  you  must  hold  on,"  replied  I,  "  while 
I  pull  you  on  shore  ;  we  shall  soon  be  there."  I  must  say 
that  I  felt  a  pleasure  in  allowing  him  thus  to  hang  in  the 
water.  I  might  have  taken  them  all  in  certainly,  although 
at  some  risk,  from  their  want  of  presence  of  mind  and 
hurry,  arising  from  the  feeling  of  self-preservation  ;  but  I 
desired  them  to  hold  on,  and  pulled  for  the  landing-place, 
which  we  soon  gained.  The  person  who  had  preferred 
swimming  had  arrived  before  us,  and  was  waiting  on  the 
beach. 

"  Have  you  got  them  all,  waterman  ?  "  said  he. 

"  Yes,  sir,  I  believe  so  ;  I  have  four." 

"  The  tally  is  right,"  replied  he,  "  and  four  greater 
galloots  were  never  picked  up  ;  but  never  mind  that.  It 
was  my  nonsense  that  nearly  drowned  them  ;  and,  there- 
fore, I'm  very  glad  you've  managed  so  well.  My  jacket 
went  down  in  the  boat,  and  I  must  reward  you  another 
time." 

"  Thank  you,  sir,  no  occasion  for  that,  it's  not  a  regular 
fare." 

"Nevertheless,  give  us  your  name." 

"  Oh,  you  may  ask  Mr  Hodgson,  the  senior  clerk,  or 
that  full-moon-faced  fellow — they  know  my  name." 

"  "Waterman,  what  do  you  mean  ? "  replied  Mr  Hodgson, 
shivering  with  cold. 

"  Very  impudent  fellow,"  said  the  junior,  of  the  round 
face. 

"  If  they  know  your  name,  they  won't  tell  it,"  replied 
the  other.  "Now,  I'll  first  tell  you  mine,  v/hich  is 
Lieutenant  Wilson,  of  the  navy  ;  and  now  let's  have  yours, 
that  I  may  ask  for  it  •,  and  tell  me  what  stairs  you  ply 
from." 

"  My  name  is  Jacob  Faithful,  sir,"  replied  I  ;  "  and  you 


324  Jacob  Faithful 

may  ask  your  friends  whether  they  know  it  or  not  when 
their  teeth  don't  chatter  quite  so  much." 

At  the  mention  of  my  name  the  senior  and  junior  clerk 
walked  off,  and  the  lieutenant,  telling  me  that  I  should 
hear  from  him  again,  was  about  to  leave.  "  If  you  mean 
to  give  me  money,  sir,  I  tell  you  candidly  I  shall  not  take 
it.  I  hate  these  two  men  for  the  injuries  they  have  heaped 
on  me  ;  but  I  don't  know  how  it  is,  I  feel  a  degree  of 
pleasure  in  having  saved  them,  that  I  wish  for  no  better 
revenge.     So  farewell,  sir." 

"  Spoken  as  you  ought,  my  lad — that's  glorious  revenge. 
Well,  then,  I  will  not  come  ;  but  if  ever  we  meet  again,  I 
shall  never  forget  this  night  and  Jacob  Faithful."  He  held 
out  his  hand,  shook  mine  warmly,  and  walked  away. 

When  they  were  gone,  I  remained  for  some  little  time 
quite  stupefied  at  the  events  of  the  day.  The  reconciliation 
— the  quarrel — the  revenge.  I  was  still  in  thought  when 
I  heard  the  sound  of  a  horse's  hoofs.  This  recalled  me, 
and  I  was  hauling  up  my  boat,  intending  to  go  home  to 
Stapleton's  ;  but  with  no  great  eagerness.  I  felt  a  sort  of 
dislike  to  Mary  Stapleton,  which  I  could  not  account  for  ; 
but  the  fact  was,  I  had  been  in  company  with  Sarah 
Drummond.  The  horse  stopped  at  the  foot  of  the  bridge  •, 
and  the  rider  giving  it  to  his  servant,  who  was  mounted  on 
another,  to  hold,  came  down  to  where  I  was  hauling  up  my 
boat.  "  My  lad,  is  it  too  late  for  you  to  launch  your  boat  ? 
I  will  pay  you  well." 

"  Where  do  you  wish  to  go  to,  sir  ?  It  is  now  past  ten 
o'clock." 

*'  I  know  it  is,  and  I  hardly  expected  to  find  a  waterman 
here  ;  but  I  took  the  chance.  Will  you  take  me  about  two 
miles  up  the  river  .'' " 

I  looked  at  the  person  who  addressed  me,  and  was 
delighted  to  recognise  in  him  the  young  man  who  had 
hired  Mr  Turnbull  and  me  to  take  him  to  the  garden,  and 
who  had  been  captured  when  we  escaped  with  the  tin-box  ; 
but  I  did  not  make  myself  known.  **  Well,  sir,  if  you  wish 
it,  I've  no  objection,"  replied  I,  putting  my  shoulder  to  the 


Jacob  Faithful  325 

bow  of  my  wherry,  and  launching  her  again  into  the  water. 
At  all  events,  this  has  been  a  day  of  adventure,  thought  I, 
as  I  threw  my  sculls  again  into  the  water,  and  commenced 
pulling  up  the  stream.  I  was  some  little  while  in  medita- 
tion whether  I  should  make  myself  known  to  the  young 
man ;  but  I  decided  that  I  would  not.  Let  me  see,  thought 
I,  what  sort  of  a  person  this  is — whether  he  is  as  deserving 
as  the  young  lady  appeared  to  consider.  "  Which  side, 
sir  ?  "  inquired  I. 

"  The  left,"  was  the  reply. 

I  knew  that  well  enough,  and  I  pulled  in  silence  until 
nearly  up  to  the  wall  of  the  garden  which  ran  down  to  the 
bank  of  the  river.  "  Now  pull  in  to  that  wall,  and  make 
no  noise,"  was  the  injunction ;  which  I  obeyed,  securing 
the  boat  to  the  very  part  where  the  coping  bricks  had  been 
displaced.  He  stood  up,  and  whistled  the  two  bars  of  the 
tune  as  before,  waited  five  minutes,  repeated  it,  and 
watched  the  windows  of  the  house  j  but  there  was  no 
reply,  or  signs  of  anybody  being  up  or  stirring.  *'It  is 
too  late ;  she  is  gone  to  rest." 

"  I  thought  there  was  a  lady  in  the  case,  sir,"  observed 
I.  "If  you  wish  to  communicate  with  her,  I  think  I  could 
manage  it." 

"  Could  you  ?  "  replied  he.  *'  Stop  a  moment ;  I'll 
speak  to  you  by-and-bye."  He  whistled  the  tune  once 
more,  and,  after  waiting  another  ten  minutes,  dropped 
himself  down  on  the  stern- sheets,  and  told  me  to  pull  back 
again.  After  a  minute's  silence  he  said  to  me,  "  You 
think  you  could  communicate  with  her,  you  say.  Pray, 
how  do  you  propose  ? " 

"  If  you  will  write  a  letter,  sir,  I'll  try  to  let  it  come  to 
her  hand." 

"How.?" 

"  That,  sir,  you  must  leave  me  to  find  out,  and  trust  to 
opportunity  j  but  you  must  tell  me  what  sort  of  person  she 
is,  that  I  may  not  give  it  to  another ;  and  also,  who  there  is 
in  the  house  that  I  must  be  careful  does  not  see  me." 

*'  Very  true,"  replied  he.     "I  can  only  say,  that  if  you 


326  Jacob  Faithful 

do  succeed,  I  will  reward  you  handsomely ;  but  she  is  so 
strictly  watched  that  I  am  afraid  it  will  be  impossible. 
However,  a  despairing,  like  a  drowning  man,  will  catch  at  a 
straw ;  and  I  will  see  whether  you  will  be  able  to  assist  me." 

He  then  informed  me  that  there  was  no  one  in  the  house 
except  her  uncle  and  his  servants,  all  of  whom  were  spies 
upon  her ;  that  my  only  chance  was  watching  if  she  were 
permitted  to  walk  in  the  garden  alone,  which  might  be  the 
case  ;  and  perhaps,  by  concealing  myself  from  eight  o'clock 
in  the  morning  till  the  evening  under  the  parapet  wall,  I 
might  find  an  opportunity.  He  directed  me  to  be  at  the 
foot  of  the  bridge  next  morning  at  seven  o'clock,  when  he 
would  come  with  a  letter  written  for  me  to  deliver,  if 
possible.  We  had  then  arrived  at  Fulham.  He  landed, 
and,  putting  a  guinea  in  my  hand,  mounted  his  horse, 
which  his  servant  walked  up  and  down,  waiting  for  him, 
and  rode  off.  I  hauled  up  my  boat  and  went  home,  tired 
with  the  manifold  events  of  the  day.  Mary  Stapleton, 
who  had  sat  up  for  me,  was  very  inquisitive  to  know  what 
had  occasioned  my  coming  home  so  late  ;  but  I  evaded  her 
questions,  and  she  left  me  in  anything  but  good  humour  5 
but  about  that  I  never  felt  so  indifferent. 

The  next  morning  the  servant  made  his  appearance  with 
the  letter,  telling  me  that  he  had  orders  to  wait  till  the 
evening ;  and  I  pulled  up  the  river.  I  placed  it  under  the 
loose  brick,  as  agreed  upon  with  the  young  lady,  and  then 
shoved  off  to  the  other  side  of  the  river,  where  I  had  a 
full  view  of  the  garden,  and  could  notice  all  that  passed. 
In  half  an  hour  the  young  lady  came  out,  accompanied  by 
another  female,  and  sauntered  up  and  down  the  gravel- 
walk.  After  a  while  she  stopped,  and  looked  on  the  river, 
her  companion  continuing  her  promenade.  As  if  without 
hoping  to  find  anything  there,  she  moved  the  brick  aside 
with  her  foot ;  perceiving  the  letter,  she  snatched  it  up 
eagerly,  and  concealed  it  in  her  dress,  and  then  cast  her 
eyes  on  the  river.  It  was  calm,  and  I  whistled  the  bar  of 
music.  She  heard  it,  and,  turning  away,  hastened  into  the 
house.     In  about  half  an  hour  she  returned,  and,  watching 


Jacob  Faithful  327 

her  opportunity,  stooped  down  to  the  brick.  I  waited  a 
few  minutes,  when  both  she  and  her  companion  went  into 
the  house.  I  then  pulled  in  under  the  wall,  lifted  up  the 
brick,  took  the  letter,  and  hastened  back  to  Fulham  ;  when 
I  delivered  the  letter  to  the  servant,  who  rode  off  with  it 
as  fast  as  he  could  -,  and  I  returned  home  quite  pleased  at 
the  successful  issue  of  my  attempt,  and  not  a  little  curious 
to  learn  the  real  facts  of  this  extraordinary  affair. 


Chapter  XXXV 

The  Domine  reads  me  a  sermon  out  of  the  largest  book  I  ever  fell  in  with, 
covering  nearly  two  acres  of  ground — The  pages  not  very  easy  to  turn 
over,  but  the  type  very  convenient  to  read  without  spectacles — He  leaves 
off  without  shutting  his  book,  as  parsons  usually  do  at  the  end  of  their 
sermons. 

The  next  day  being  Sunday,  as  usual  I  went  to  see  the 
Domine  and  Mr  Turnbull.  I  arrived  at  the  school  just  as 
all  the  boys  were  filing  off,  two  and  two,  for  church,  the 
advance  led  by  the  usher,  and  the  rear  brought  up  by  the 
Domine  in  person  ;  and  I  accompanied  them.  The  Domine 
appeared  melancholy  and  out  of  spirits — hardly  exchanging 
a  word  with  me  during  our  walk.  When  the  service  was 
over,  he  ordered  the  usher  to  take  the  boys  home,  and 
remained  with  me  in  the  churchyard,  surveying  the  tomb- 
stones, and  occasionally  muttering  to  himself.  At  last 
the  congregation  dispersed,  and  we  were  alone. 

"  Little  did  I  think,  Jacob,"  said  he,  at  last,  "  that  when 
I  bestowed  such  care  upon  thee  in  thy  childhood  I  should 
be  rewarded  as  I  have  been  !  Little  did  I  think  that  it  would 
be  to  the  boy  who  was  left  destitute  that  I  should  pour  out 
my  soul  when  afflicted,  and  find  in  him  that  sympathy 
which  I  have  long  lost,  by  the  removal  of  those  who  were 
once  my  friends !  Yes,  Jacob,  those  who  were  known  to 
me  in  my  youth — those  few  in  whom  I  confided  and  leant 
upon — are  now  lying  here  in  crumbling  dust,  and  the 
generation  hath  passed  away  ;  and  I  now  rest  upon  thee. 


328  Jacob  Faithful 

my  son,  whom  I  have  directed  in  the  right  path,  and  who 
hast,  by  the  blessing  of  God,  continued  to  walk  straight  in 
it.  Verily,  thou  art  a  solace  to  me,  Jacob ;  and  though 
young  in  years,  I  feel  that  in  thee  I  have  received  a  friend, 
and  one  that  I  may  confide  in.  Bless  thee,  Jacob  !  bless 
thee,  my  boy  !  and  before  I  am  laid  with  those  who  have 
gone  before  me,  may  I  see  thee  prosperous  and  happy  ! 
Then  I  will  sing  the  Nunc  dimittis ;  then  will  I  say,  '  Now, 
Lord,  let  thy  servant  depart  in  peace.' " 

" I  am  happy,  sir,"  replied  I,  "to  hear  you  say  that  I  am 
of  any  comfort  to  you,  for  I  feel  truly  grateful  for  all  your 
kindness  to  me  5  but  I  wish  that  you  did  not  require  comfort." 

"  Jacob,  in  what  part  of  a  man's  life  does  he  not  require 
comfort  and  consolation ;  yea,  even  from  the  time  when, 
as  a  child,  he  buries  his  weeping  face  in  his  mother's  lap 
till  the  hour  that  summons  him  to  his  account  ?  Not  that 
I  consider  this  world  to  be,  as  many  have  described  it,  a 
'  vale  of  tears.'  No,  Jacob ;  it  is  a  beautiful  world,  a 
glorious  world,  and  would  be  a  happy  world,  if  we  would 
only  restrain  those  senses  and  those  passions  with  which 
we  have  been  endowed,  that  we  may  fully  enjoy  the 
beauty,  the  variety,  the  inexhaustible  bounty  of  a  gracious 
Heaven.  All  was  made  for  enjoyment  and  for  happiness  ; 
but  it  is  we  ourselves  who,  by  excess,  defile  that  which 
otherwise  were  pure.  Thus,  the  fainting  traveller  may 
drink  wholesome  and  refreshing  draughts  from  the 
bounteous,  overflowing  spring ;  but  should  he  rush  heed- 
lessly into  it,  he  muddies  the  source,  and  the  waters  are 
those  of  bitterness.  Thus,  Jacob,  was  wine  given  to 
cheer  the  heart  of  man ;  yet,  didst  not  thou  witness  me, 
thy  preceptor,  debased  by  intemperance  ?  Thus,  Jacob, 
were  the  affections  implanted  in  us  as  a  source  of  sweetest 
happiness,  such  as  those  which  now  yearn  in  my  breast 
towards  thee ;  yet  hast  thou  seen  me,  thy  preceptor,  by 
yielding  to  the  infatuation  and  imbecility  of  threescore 
years,  doat,  in  my  folly,  upon  a  maiden,  and  turn  the  sweet 
affections  into  a  source  of  misery  and  anguish."  I  answered 
not,  for  the  words  of  the  Domine  made  a  strong  impres- 


Jacob  Faithful  329 

sion  upon  me,  and  I  was  weighing  them  in  my  mind. 
"  Jacob,"  continued  the  Domine  after  a  pause,  "  next  to 
the  book  of  life,  there  is  no  subject  of  contemplation  more 
salutary  than  the  book  of  death,  of  which  each  stone  now 
around  us  may  be  considered  as  a  page,  and  each  page 
contains  a  lesson.  Read  that  which  is  now  before  us.  It 
would  appear  hard  that  an  only  child  should  have  been  torn 
away  from  its  doting  parents,  who  have  thus  imperfectly 
expressed  their  anguish  on  the  tomb  j  it  would  appear 
hard  that  their  delight,  their  solace,  the  object  of  their 
daily  care,  of  their  waking  thoughts,  of  their  last  imperfect 
recollections  as  they  sank  into  sleep,  of  their  only  dreams, 
should  thus  have  been  taken  from  them  j  yet  did  I  know 
them,  and  Heaven  was  just  and  merciful.  The  child  had 
weaned  them  from  their  God  j  they  lived  but  in  him ;  they 
were  without  God  in  the  world.  The  child  alone  had 
their  affections,  and  they  had  been  lost,  had  not  he  in  his 
mercy  removed  it.  Come  this  way,  Jacob."  I  followed 
the  Domine  till  he  stood  before  another  tombstone  in  a 
corner  of  the  churchyard.  "  This  stone,  Jacob,  marks  the 
spot  where  lie  the  remains  of  one  who  was  my  earliest  and 
dearest  friend — for  in  my  youth  I  had  friends,  because  I  had 
anticipations,  and  little  thought  that  it  would  have  pleased  God 
that  I  should  do  my  duty  in  that  station  to  which  I  have  been 
called.  He  had  one  fault,  which  proved  a  source  of  misery 
through  life,  and  was  the  cause  of  an  untimely  death.  He 
was  of  a  revengeful  disposition.  He  never  forgave  an  injury, 
forgetting,  poor,  sinful  mortal,  for  how  much  he  had  need 
to  be  forgiven.  He  quarrelled  with  his  relations ;  he  was 
shot  in  a  duel  with  his  friend  !  I  mention  this,  Jacob,  as 
a  lesson  to  thee ;  not  that  I  feel  myself  worthy  to  be  thy 
preceptor,  for  I  am  humbled,  but  out  of  kindness  and  love 
towards  thee,  that  I  might  persuade  thee  to  correct  that 
fault  in  thy  disposition." 

"  I  have  already  made  friends  with  Mr  Drummond, 
sir,"  answered  I;  "but  still  your  admonition  shall  not 
be  thrown  away." 

"Hast  thou,  Jacob.''   then  is  my  mind  much  relieved. 


;^;^o  Jacob  Faithful 

I  trust  thou  wilt  no  longer  stand  in  thine  own  light,  but 
accept  the  offers  which,  in  the  fulness  of  his  heart  to  make 
redress,  he  may  make  unto  thee." 

"  Nay,  sir,  I  cannot  promise  that :  I  wish  to  be  indepen- 
dent and  earn  my  own  livelihood." 

"  Then  hear  me,  Jacob,  for  the  spirit  of  prophecy  is  on 
me  j  the  time  will  come  when  thou  shalt  bitterly  repent. 
Thou  hast  received  an  education  by  my  unworthy 
endeavours,  and  hast  been  blessed  by  Providence  with 
talents  far  above  the  situation  in  life  to  which  thou 
wouldst  so  tenaciously  adhere  j  the  time  will  come  when 
thou  wilt  repent,  yea,  bitterly  repent.  Look  at  that 
marble  monument  with  the  arms  so  lavishly  emblazoned 
upon  it.  That,  Jacob,  is  the  tomb  of  a  proud  rtian,  whose 
career  is  well  known  to  me.  He  was  in  straitened  circum- 
stances, yet  of  gentle  race — but,  like  the  steward  in  the 
Scripture,  '  work  he  could  not,  to  beg  he  was  ashamed.' 
He  might  have  prospered  in  the  world,  but  his  pride 
forbade  him.  He  might  have  made  friends,  but  his  pride 
forbade  him.  He  might  have  wedded  himself  to  wealth 
and  beauty,  but  there  was  no  escutcheon,  and  his  pride 
forbade  him.  He  did  marry,  and  entail  upon  his  children 
poverty.  He  died,  and  the  little  he  possessed  was  taken 
from  his  children's  necessities  to  build  this  record  to  his 
dust.  Do  not  suppose  that  I  would  check  that  honest 
pride,  which  will  prove  a  safe-guard  from  unworthy 
actions.  I  only  wish  to  check  that  undue  pride  which 
will  mar  thy  future  prospects.  Jacob,  that  which  thou 
termest  independence  is  naught  but  pride." 

I  could  not  acknowledge  that  I  agreed  with  the  Domine, 
although  something  in  my  breast  told  me  that  he  was  not 
wrong.  I  made  no  answer.  The  Domine  continued  to 
muse — at  last  he  again  spoke. 

"  Yes  j  it  is  a  beautiful  world  ;  for  the  Spirit  of  God 
is  on  it.  At  the  separation  of  chaos  it  came  over  the 
waters,  and  hath  since  remained  with  us,  everywhere, 
but  invisible.  We  see  his  hand  in  the  variety  and  the 
beauty  of  creation,  but  his  Spirit  we  see  not ;  yet  do  we 


Jacob  Faithful 


1^1 


feel  it  in  the  still  small  voice  of  conscience,  which  would 
lead  us  into  the  right  path.  Now,  Jacob,  we  must  return, 
for  I  have  the  catechism  and  collects  to  attend  to." 

I  took  leave  of  the  Domine,  and  went  to  Mr  Turnbuli's, 
to  whom  I  gave  an  account  of  what  had  passed  since  I 
last  saw  him.  He  was  much  pleased  with  my  reconcilia- 
tion with  the  Drummonds,  and  interested  about  the  young 
lady  to  whom  appertained  the  tin-box  in  his  possession. 
"I  presume,  Jacob,  we  shall  now  have  that  mystery 
cleared  up." 

"  I  have  not  told  the  gentleman  that  we  have  possession 
of  the  box,"  replied  I. 

"No;  but  you  told  the  young  lady,  you  silly  fellow; 
and  do  you  think  she  will  keep  it  a  secret  from  him  ? " 

**  Very  true;  I  had  forgotten  that." 

"  Jacob,  I  wish  you  to  go  to  Mr  Drummond's,  and  see 
his  family  again ;  you  ought  to  do  so."  I  hesitated. 
**  Nay,  I  shall  give  you  a  fair  opportunity  without  wound- 
ing that  pride  of  yours,  sir,"  replied  Mr  Turnbull ;  "  I 
owe  him  some  money  for  some  wine  he  purchased  for  me, 
and  I  shall  send  the  cheque  by  you." 

To  this  I  assented,  as  I  was  not  sorry  of  an  opportunity 
of  seeing  Sarah.  I  dined  with  Mr  Turnbull,  who  was 
alone,  his  wife  being  on  a  visit  to  a  relation  in  the  country. 
He  again  offered  me  his  advice  as  to  giving  up  the  pro- 
fession of  a  waterman ;  but  if  I  did  not  hear  him  with  so 
much  impatience  as  before,  nor  use  so  many  arguments 
against  it,  I  did  not  accede  to  his  wishes,  and  the  subject 
was  dropped.  Mr  Turnbull  was  satisfied  that  my  resist- 
ance was  weakened,  and  hoped  in  time  to  have  the  effect 
which  he  desired.  When  I  went  home,  Mary  told  me 
that  Tom  Beazeley  had  been  there,  that  his  wherry  was 
building,  that  his  father  had  given  up  the  lighter,  and 
was  now  on  shore  very  busy  in  getting  up  his  board  to 
attract  customers,  and  obtain  work  in  his  new  occupation. 

I  had  not  launched  my  wherry  the  next  morning, 
when  down  came  the  young  gentleman  to  whom  I  had 
despatched   the  letter.      "  Faithful,"   said    he,   *'  come  to 


;^^2  Jacob  Faithful 

the  tavern  with  me ;  I  must  have  some  conversation  with 
you."  I  followed  him ;  and  as  soon  as  we  were  in  a 
room,  he  said,  **  First  let  me  pay  my  debt,  for  I  owe  you 
much;"  and  he  laid  five  guineas  on  the  table.  "I  find 
from  Cecilia  that  you  have  possession  of  the  tin  case  of 
deeds  which  has  been  so  eagerly  sought  after  by  both 
parties.  Why  did  you  not  say  so  ?  And  why  did  you 
not  tell  me  that  it  was  you  whom  I  hired  on  the  night 
when  I  was  so  unfortunate  ? " 

"  I  considered  the  secret  as  belonging  to  the  young 
lady,  and  having  told  her,  I  left  it  to  her  discretion  to 
make  you  acquainted  or  not,  as  she  pleased." 

"  It  was  thoughtful  and  prudent  of  you,  at  all  events, 
although  there  was  no  occasion  for  it.  Nevertheless  I  am 
pleased  that  you  did  so,  as  it  proves  you  to  be  trust- 
worthy. Now,  tell  me,  who  is  the  gentleman  who  was 
with  you  in  the  boat,  and  who  has  charge  of  the  box  ? 
Observe,  Faithful,  I  do  not  intend  to  demand  it.  I  shall 
tell  him  the  facts  of  the  case  in  your  presence,  and  then 
leave  him  to  decide  whether  he  will  surrender  up  the 
papers  to  the  other  party,  or  to  me.  Can  you  take  me 
there  now  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir,"  replied  I,  "  I  can,  if  you  please  ;  I  will  pull 
you  up  in  half  an  hour.  The  house  is  at  the  river's 
side." 

The  young  gentleman  leaped  into  my  wherry,  and  we 
were,  in  less  than  the  time  I  had  mentioned,  in  the  parlour 
of  Mr  Turnbull.  I  will  not  repeat  the  conversation  in 
detail,  but  give  the  outline  of  the  young  man's  story. 


Jacob  Faithful  333 


Chapter  XXXVI 

A  long  story,  which  ends  in  the  opening  of  the  tin-box,  whicii  proves  to 
contain  deeds  much  more  satisfactory  to  Mr  Wharncliffe  than  the  deeds 
of  his  uncle — Begin  to  feel  the  blessings  of  independence,  and  suspect 
that  I  have  acted  like  a  fool — After  two  years'  consideration,  I  become 
quite  sure  of  it,  and,  as  Tom  says,  "  No  mistake." 

"  The  gentleman  who  prevented  my  taking  off  the  young 
lady  is  uncle  to  both  of  us.  We  are,  therefore,  first 
cousins.  Our  family  name  is  Wharncliffe.  My  father 
was  a  major  in  the  army.  He  died  when  I  was  young, 
and  my  mother  is  still  alive,  and  is  sister  to  Lady  Auburn. 
The  father  and  mother  of  Cecilia  are  both  dead.  He  went 
out  to  India  to  join  his  brother,  another  uncle,  of  whom 
I  shall  speak  directly.  He  has  now  been  dead  three  years, 
and  out  of  the  four  brothers  there  is  only  one  left,  my 
uncle,  with  whom  Cecilia  is  living,  and  whose  Christian 
name  is  Henry.  He  was  a  lawyer  by  profession,  but  he 
purchased  a  patent  place,  which  he  still  enjoys.  My 
father,  whose  name  was  William,  died  in  very  moderate 
circumstances ;  but  still  he  left  enough  for  my  mother  to 
live  upon,  and  to  educate  me  properly.  I  was  brought 
up  to  the  law  under  my  uncle  Henry,  with  whom,  for 
some  years,  I  resided.  Cecilia's  father,  whose  name  was 
Edward,  left  nothing  ;  he  had  ruined  himself  in  England, 
and  had  gone  out  to  India  at  the  request  of  my  uncle 
there,  whose  name  was  James,  and  who  had  amassed  a 
large  fortune.  Soon  after  the  death  of  Cecilia's  father, 
my  uncle  James  came  home  on  furlough,  for  he  held  a 
very  high  and  lucrative  situation  under  the  Company. 
A  bachelor  from  choice,  he  was  still  fond  of  young 
people  j  and  having  but  one  nephew  and  one  niece  to 
leave  his  money  to,  as  soon  as  he  arrived  with  Cecilia, 
whom  he  brought  with  him,  he  was  most  anxious  to  see 
me.  He  therefore  took  up  his  quarters  with  my  uncle 
Henry,   and    remained    with   him    during   his    sojourn   in 


jj)^ 


Jacob  Faithful 


England  5  but  my  uncle  James  was  of  a  very  cold  and 
capricious  temper.  He  liked  me  best  because  I  was  a 
boy,  and  one  day  declared  I  should  be  his  heir.  The 
next  day  he  would  alter  his  intention,  and  declare  that 
Cecilia,  of  whom  he  was  very  fond,  should  inherit  every- 
thing. If  we  affronted  him,  for  at  the  age  of  sixteen  as 
a  boy,  and  fourteen  as  a  girl,  worldly  prospects  were 
little  regarded,  he  would  then  declare  that  we  should  not 
be  a  shilling  the  better  for  his  money.  With  him,  money 
was  everything ;  it  was  his  daily  theme  of  conversation, 
his  only  passion  ;  and  he  valued  and  respected  people  in 
proportion  to  what  they  were  supposed  to  possess.  With 
these  feelings  he  demanded  for  himself  the  greatest  defer- 
ence from  Cecilia  and  me,  as  his  expectant  heirs.  This 
he  did  not  receive ;  but  on  the  whole  he  was  pleased 
with  us,  and  after  remaining  three  years  in  England,  he 
returned  to  the  East  Indies.  I  had  heard  him  mention  to 
my  uncle  Henry  his  intention  of  making  his  will,  and 
leaving  it  with  him  before  he  sailed  j  but  I  was  not  certain 
whether  it  had  been  done  or  not.  At  all  events,  my  uncle 
Henry  took  care  that  I  should  not  be  in  the  way  j  for 
at  that  time  my  uncle  carried  on  his  profession  as  a  lawyer, 
and  I  was  working  in  his  office.  It  was  not  until  after 
my  uncle  James  returned  to  India  that  he  gave  up  business, 
and  purchased  the  patent  place  which  I  mentioned.  Cecilia 
was  left  with  my  uncle  Henry,  and  as  we  lived  in  the 
same  house,  our  affections,  as  we  grew  up,  ripened  into 
love.  We  often  used  to  laugh  at  the  threats  of  my  uncle 
James,  and  agreed  that  whoever  might  be  the  fortunate 
one  to  whom  he  left  his  property,  we  would  go  halves, 
and  share  it  equally. 

"  In  the  meantime  I  still  followed  up  my  profession  in 
another  house,  in  which  I  at  present  am  a  partner.  Four 
years  after  the  return  of  my  uncle  James  to  India,  news 
came  home  of  his  death  ;  but  it  was  also  stated  that  no 
will  could  be  found,  and  it  was  supposed  that  he  died 
intestate.  Of  course,  my  uncle  Henry  succeeded  as 
heir-at-law  to   the  whole   property,   and   thus   were   the 


Jacob  Faithful  ^t,^ 

expectations  and  hopes  of  Cecilia  and  of  myself  dashed 
to  the  ground.  But  this  was  not  the  worst  of  it :  my 
uncle,  who  had  witnessed  our  feelings  for  each  other, 
and  had  made  no  comment,  as  soon  as  he  was  in  possession 
of  the  property,  intimated  to  Cecilia  that  she  should  be 
his  heiress,  provided  that  she  married  according  to  his 
wishes ;  and  pointed  out  to  her  that  a  fortune  such  as 
she  might  expect  would  warrant  the  alhance  of  the  first 
nobleman  in  the  kingdom ;  and  he  very  plainly  told  me 
that  he  thought  it  advisable  that  I  should  find  lodgings 
for  myself,  and  not  be  any  longer  an  inmate  in  the  same 
house  as  was  my  cousin,  as  no  good  would  result  from 
it.  Thus,  sir,  were  we  not  only  disappointed  in  our 
hopes,  but  thwarted  in  our  affections,  which  had  for 
some  time  been  exchanged.  Maddened  at  this  intimation, 
I  quitted  the  house;  but  at  the  same  time  the  idea  of 
my  uncle  James  having  made  a  will  still  pressed  upon 
me,  as  I  called  to  mind  what  I  had  heard  him  say  to  my 
uncle  Henry  previous  to  his  sailing  for  India.  There 
was  a  box  of  deeds  and  papers,  the  very  box  now  in 
your  possession,  which  my  uncle  invariably  kept  in  his 
bedroom.  I  felt  convinced  that  the  will,  if  not  destroyed 
(and  I  did  not  believe  my  uncle  would  dare  to  commit 
an  act  of  felony),  was  in  that  box.  Had  I  remained  in 
the  house,  I  would  have  found  some  means  to  have 
opened  it ;  but  this  was  no  longer  possible.  I  communi- 
cated my  suspicions  to  Cecilia,  and  begged  her  to  make 
the  attempt,  which  would  be  more  easy,  as  my  uncle 
would  not  suspect  her  of  being  bold  enough  to  venture 
it,  even  if  he  had  the  suspicion.  Cecilia  promised,  and 
one  day  my  uncle  fortunately  left  his  keys  upon  his 
dressing-table  when  he  came  down  to  breakfast,  and 
went  out  without  missing  them.  Cecilia  discovered  them, 
and  opened  the  box  -,  and  amongst  other  parchments 
found  a  document  labelled  outside  as  the  will  of  our 
uncle  James ;  but  women  understand  little  about  these 
things,  and  she  was  in  such  trepidation  for  fear  that  my 
uncle    should   return,   that   she  could  not   examine  very 


2^6  Jacob  Faithful 

minutely.  As  it  was,  my  uncle  did  return  for  his  keys 
just  as  she  had  locked  the  box,  and  placed  the  keys  upon 
the  table.  He  asked  her  what  she  was  doing  there,  and 
she  made  some  excuse.  He  saw  the  keys  on  the  table, 
and  whether  suspecting  her,  for  she  coloured  up  very 
much,  or  afraid  that  the  attempt  might  be  made  at  my 
suggestion,  he  removed  the  box  and  locked  it  up  in  a 
closet,  the  key  of  which,  I  believe,  he  left  with  his  banker 
in  town.  When  Cecilia  wrote  to  me  an  account  of  what 
had  passed,  I  desired  her  to  find  the  means  of  opening 
the  closet,  that  we  might  gain  possession  of  the  box ; 
and  this  was  easily  effected,  for  the  key  of  another  closet 
fitted  the  lock  exactly.  I  then  persuaded  her  to  put 
herself  under  my  protection,  with  the  determination  that 
we  would  marry  immediately  ;  and  we  had  so  arranged, 
that  the  tin-box  was  to  have  accompanied  us.  You  are 
aware,  sir,  how  unfortunately  our  plan  turned  out — at 
least,  so  far  unfortunately,  that  I  lost,  as  I  thought,  not 
only  Cecilia,  but  the  tin-box,  containing,  as  I  expect, 
the  will  of  my  uncle,  of  which  I  am  more  than  ever 
convinced  from  the  great  anxiety  shown  by  my  uncle 
Henry  to  recover  it.  Since  the  loss,  he  has  been  in  a 
state  of  agitation  which  has  worn  him  to  a  shadow.  He 
feels  that  his  only  chance  is  that  the  waterman  employed 
might  have  broken  open  the  box,  expecting  to  find  money 
in  it,  and  being  disappointed,  have  destroyed  the  papers 
to  avoid  detection.  If  such  had  been  the  case,  and  it 
might  have  been,  had  it  not  fallen  into  such  good  hands, 
he  then  would  have  obtained  his  only  wish,  that  of  the 
destruction  of  the  will,  although  not  by  his  own  hands. 
Now,  sir,  I  have  given  you  a  full  and  honest  account  of 
the  affair,  and  leave  you  to  decide  how  to  act." 

"  If  you  leave  me  to  decide,  I  shall  do  it  very  quickly," 
replied  Mr  Turnbull.  "  A  box  has  fallen  into  my  hands, 
and  I  do  not  know  who  is  the  owner.  I  shall  open  it,  and 
take  a  list  of  the  deeds  it  contains,  and  advertise  them  in 
the  Times  and  other  newspapers.  If  your  dead  uncle's 
will  is  in  it,  it  will  of  course  be  advertised  with  the  others, 


Jacob  Faithful  ^37 

and  after  such  publicity,  your  uncle  Henry  will  not  ven- 
ture, I  presume,  to  say  a  word,  but  be  too  glad  not  to  be 
exposed." 

Mr  TurnbuU  ordered  a  locksmith  to  be  summoned,  and 
the  tin-box  was  opened.  It  contained  the  document  of  the 
uncle's  purchase  of  the  patent  place  in  the  courts,  and  some 
other  papers,  but  it  also  contained  the  parchment  so  much 
looked  after — the  last  will  and  testament  of  James  Wharn- 
clifFe,  Esq.,  dated  two  months  previous  to  his  quitting 
England.  "I  think,"  observed  Mr  Turnbull,  "that  in 
case  of  accident,  it  may  be  as  well  that  this  will  should  be 
read  before  witnesses.  You  observe,  it  is  witnessed  by 
Henry  WharnclifFe,  with  two  others.  Let  us  take  down 
their  names." 

The  will  was  read  by  young  WharnclifFe,  at  the  request 
of  Mr  Turnbull.  Strange  to  say,  the  deceased  bequeathed 
the  whole  of  his  property  to  his  nephew,  William  Wharn- 
cliffe,  and  his  niece,  Cecilia,  provided  they  married ;  if  they 
did  not,  they  were  left  ^20,000  each,  and  the  remainder 
of  the  fortune  to  go  to  the  first  male  child  born  after  the 
marriage  of  either  niece  or  nephew.  To  his  brother,  the 
sum  of  ^T  10,000  was  bequeathed,  with  a  liberal  arrange- 
ment, to  be  paid  out  of  the  estate,  so  long  as  his  niece 
lived  with  him.  The  will  was  read,  and  returned  to  Mr 
Turnbull,  who  shook  hands  with  Mr  Wharncliffe,  and 
congratulated  him. 

"•I  am  so  much  indebted  to  you,  sir,  that  I  can  hardly 
express  my  gratitude,  but  I  am  still  more  indebted  to  this 
intelligent  lad.  Faithful.  You  must  no  longer  be  a  water- 
man, Faithful,"  and  Mr  WharnclifFe  shook  my  hand.  I 
made  no  answer  to  the  latter  observation,  for  Mr  Turnbull 
had  fixed  his  eye  upon  me  :  I  merely  said  that  I  was  very 
happy  to  have  been  of  use  to  him. 

"  You  may  truly  say,  Mr  WharnclifFe,"  observed  Mr 
Turnbull,  **  that  your  future  prosperity  will  be  through 
his  means  ;  and,  as  it  appears  by  the  will  that  you  have 
jT^ooo  per  annum  safe  in  the  Funds,  I  think  you  ought  to 
give  a  prize  wherry,  to  be  rowed  for  every  year." 

J.F.  Y 


^^S  Jacob  Faithful 

"  And  I  will  take  that,"  replied  I,  "  for  a  receipt  in  full 
for  my  share  in  the  transaction." 

"  And  now,"  said  Mr  Turnbull,  interrupting  Mr 
Wharncliffe,  who  was  about  to  answer  me,  **  it  appears  to 
me  that  it  may  be  as  well  to  avoid  any  exposure — the  case 
is  too  clear.  Call  upon  your  uncle — state  in  whose  hands 
the  documents  are — tell  him  that  he  must  submit  to  your 
terms,  which  are,  that  he  proves  the  will,  and  permits  the 
marriage  to  take  place  immediately,  and  that  no  more  will 
be  said  on  the  subject.  He,  as  a  lawyer,  knows  how 
severely  and  disgracefully  he  might  be  punished  for  what 
he  has  done,  and  will  be  too  happy  now  to  accede  to  your 
terms.  In  the  meantime  I  keep  possession  of  the  papers, 
for  the  will  shall  never  leave  my  hands,  until  it  is  lodged 
in  Doctors'  Commons." 

Mr  Wharncliffe  could  not  but  approve  of  this  judicious 
arrangement,  and  we  separated  ;  and,  not  to  interfere  with 
my  narrative,  I  may  as  well  tell  the  reader  at  once,  that 
Mr  Wharncliffe's  uncle  bowed  to  circumstances,  pretended 
to  rejoice  at  the  discovery  of  the  will,  never  mentioned  the 
loss  of  his  tin-box,  put  the  hand  of  Cecilia  into  that  of 
William,  and  they  were  married  one  month  after  the 
meeting  at  Mr  Turnbull's,  which  I  have  now  related. 

The  evening  was  so  far  advanced  before  this  council  of 
war  was  over,  that  I  was  obliged  to  defer  the  delivery  of 
the  cheque  to  Mr  Drummond  until  the  next  day.  I  left 
about  eleven  o'clock,  and  arrived  at  noon  j  when  I  knocked 
at  the  door  the  servant  did  not  know  me. 

*'  What  did  you  want  ? " 

"  I  wanted  to  speak  with  Mrs  or  Miss  Drummond,  and 
my  name  is  Faithful." 

He  desired  me  to  sit  down  in  the  hall,  while  he  went 
up  ;  "  And  wipe  your  shoes,  my  lad."  I  cannot  say  that 
I  was  pleased  at  this  command,  as  I  may  call  it,  but  he 
returned,  desiring  me  to  walk  up,  and  I  followed  him. 

I  found  Sarah  alone  in  the  drawing-room. 

"  Jacob,  I'm  so  glad  to  see  you,  and  I'm  sorry  that  you 
were  made  to  wait  below,  but if  people  who  can  be 


Jacob  Faithful  339 

otherwise,  will  be  watermen,  it  is  not  our  fault.  The 
servants  only  judge  by  appearances." 

I  felt  annoyed  for  a  moment,  but  it  was  soon  over.  I  sat 
down  by  Sarah,  and  talked  with  her  for  some  time. 

"  The  present  I  had  to  make  you  was  a  purse  of  my  own 
knitting,  to  put  your — earnings  in,"  said  she,  laughing  ; 
and  then  she  held  up  her  finger  in  mockery,  crying, 
"  Boat,  sir ;  boat,  sir.  Well,  Jacob,  there's  nothing  like 
independence,  after  all,  and  you  must  not  mind  my  laughing 
at  you." 

•'  I  do  not  heed  it,  Sarah,"  replied  I  (but  I  did  mind  it 
very  much)  ;  "  there  is  no  disgrace." 

"  None  whatever,  I  grant ;  but  a  want  of  ambition, 
which  I  cannot  understand.  However,  let  us  say  no  more 
about  it." 

Mrs  Drummond  came  into  the  room,  and  greeted  me 
kindly.  **  When  can  you  come  and  dine  with  us,  Jacob  .'* 
Will  you  come  on  Wednesday  ?  " 

"  Oh,  mamma  !  he  can't  come  on  Wednesday  j  we  have 
company  on  that  day." 

"So  we  have,  my  dear  j  I  had  forgotten  it ;  but  on 
Thursday  we  are  quite  alone  :  will  you  come  on  Thursday, 
Jacob  ? " 

I  hesitated,  for  I  felt  that  it  was  because  I  was  a  water- 
man that  I  was  not  admitted  to  the  table  where  I  had  been 
accustomed  to  dine  at  one  time,  whoever  might  be  invited. 

"  Yes,  Jacob,"  said  Sarah,  coming  to  me,  *'  it  must  be 
Thursday,  and  you  must  not  deny  us  ;  for  although  we 
have  greater  people  on  Wednesday,  the  party  that  day  will 
not  be  so  agreeable  to  me  as  your  company  on  Thursday." 

The  last  compliment  from  Sarah  decided  me,  and  I 
accepted  the  invitation.  Mr  Drummond  came  in,  and  I 
delivered  to  him  Mr  Turnbull's  cheque.  He  was  very 
kind,  but  said  little  further  than  that  he  was  glad  that  I 
had  promised  to  dine  with  them  on  Thursday.  The  foot- 
man came  in  and  announced  the  carriage  at  the  door,  and 
this  was  a  signal  for  me  to  take  my  leave.  Sarah,  as  she 
shook  hands  with  me,  laughing,  asserted  that  it  was  not 


340  Jacob  Faithful 

considerate  in  them  to  detain  me  any  longer,  as  I  must  have 
lost  half  a  dozen  good  fares  already  ;  "  So  go  down  to 
your  boat,  pull  off  your  jacket,  and  make  up  for  lost  time," 
continued  she  ;  "  one  of  these  days,  mamma  and  I  intend  to 
go  on  the  water,  just  to  patronise  you."  I  laughed,  and 
went  away,  but  I  was  cruelly  mortified.  I  could  not  be 
equal  to  them,  because  I  was  a  waterman.  The  sarcasm  of 
Sarah  was  not  lost  upon  me ;  still  there  was  so  much  kind- 
ness mixed  with  it  that  I  could  not  be  angry  with  her.  On 
the  Thursday  I  went  there,  as  agreed  ;  they  were  quite 
alone  ;  friendly  and  attentive  j  but  still  there  was  a  degree 
of  constraint  which  communicated  itself  to  me.  After 
dinner,  Mr  Drummond  said  very  little.;  there  was  no 
renewal  of  offers  to  take  me  into  his  employ,  nor  any 
inquiry  as  to  how  I  got  on  in  the  profession  which  I  had 
chosen.  On  the  whole,  I  found  myself  uncomfortable,  and 
was  glad  to  leave  early,  nor  did  I  feel  at  all  inclined  to 
renew  my  visit.  I  ought  to  remark  that  Mr  Drummond 
was  now  moving  in  a  very  different  sphere  than  when 
I  first  knew  him.  He  was  consignee  of  several  large 
establishments  abroad,  and  was  making  a  rapid  fortune. 
His  establishment  was  also  on  a  very  different  scale,  every 
department  being  appointed  with  elegance  and  conducive 
to  luxury.  As  I  pulled  up  the  river,  something  within  my 
breast  told  me  that  the  Domine's  prophecy  would  turn  out 
correct,  and  that  I  should  one  day  repent  of  my  having 
refused  the  advances  of  Mr  Drummond — nay,  I  did  not 
exactly  know  whether  I  did  not,  even  at  that  moment, 
very  much  doubt  the  wisdom  of  my  asserting  my  in- 
dependence. 

And  now,  reader,  that  I  may  not  surfeit  you  with  an  un- 
interesting detail,  you  must  allow  nearly  two  years  to  pass 
away  before  I  recommence  my  narrative.  The  events  of 
that  time  I  shall  sum  up  in  one  or  two  pages.  The 
Domine  continued  the  even  tenor  of  his  way — blew  his 
nose  and  handled  his  rod  with  as  much  effect  as  ever.  I 
seldom  passed  a  Sunday  without  paying  him  a  visit,  and 
benefiting  by  his  counsel.     Mr  Turnbull  was  always  kind 


Jacob  Faithful  341 

and  considerate,  but  gradually  declining  in  health,  having 
never  recovered  from  the  effects  of  his  submersion  under 
the  ice.  Of  the  Drummonds  I  saw  but  little  ;  when  we 
did  meet,  I  was  kindly  received,  but  I  never  volunteered  a 
call,  and  it  was  usually  from  a  message  through  Tom,  that 
I  went  to  pay  my  respects.  Sarah  had  grown  a  very 
beautiful  girl,  and  the  well-known  fact  of  Mr  Drummond's 
wealth,  and  her  being  an  only  daughter,  was  an  introduc- 
tion to  a  circle  much  higher  than  they  had  been  formerly 
accustomed  to.  Every  day,  therefore,  the  disparity  in- 
creased, and  I  felt  less  inclined  to  make  my  appearance  at 
their  house. 

Stapleton,  as  usual,  continued  to  smoke  his  pipe  and 
descant  upon  human  natur.  Mary  had  grown  into  a 
splendid  woman,  but  coquettish  as  ever.  Poor  Tom 
Beazeley  was  fairly  entrapped  by  her  charms,  and  was  a 
constant  attendant  upon  her,  but  she  played  him  fast  and 
loose — one  time  encouraging  and  smiling  on  him,  at 
another  rejecting  and  flouting  him.  Still  Tom  persevered, 
for  he  was  fascinated,  and  having  returned  me  the  money 
advanced  for  his  wherry,  he  expended  all  his  earnings  on 
dressing  himself  smartly,  and  making  presents  to  her. 
She  had  completely  grown  out  of  any  control  from  me, 
and  appeared  to  have  a  pleasure  in  doing  everything  she 
knew  I  disapproved ;  still,  we  were  on  fair  friendly  terms 
as  inmates  of  the  same  house. 

Old  Tom  Beazeley's  board  was  up,  and  he  had  met  with 
great  success  ;  and  all  day  he  might  be  seen  hammering  at 
the  bottoms  of  boats  of  every  description,  and  heard,  at 
the  same  time,  lightening  his  labour  with  his  variety  of 
song.  I  often  called  there  on  my  way  up  and  down  the 
river,  and  occasionally  passed  a  few  hours,  listening  to  his 
yarns,  which,  like  his  songs,  appeared  to  be  inexhaustible. 

With  respect  to  myself,  it  would  be  more  a  narrative  of 
feelings  than  of  action.  My  life  glided  on  as  did  my 
wherry — silently  and  rapidly.  One  day  was  but  the  fore- 
runner of  another,  with  slight  variety  of  incident  and 
customers.     My  acquaintance,  as  the  reader  knows,  were 


342  Jacob  Faithful 

but  few,  and  my  visits  occasional.  I  again  turned  to  my 
books  during  the  long  summer  evenings,  in  which  Mary 
would  walk  out,  accompanied  by  Tom,  and  other  admirers  ; 
Mr  Turnbull's  library  was  at  my  service,  and  I  profited 
much.  After  a  time,  reading  became  almost  a  passion, 
and  I  was  seldom  without  a  book  in  my  hand.  But 
although  I  improved  my  mind,  I  did  not  render  myself 
happier.  On  the  contrary,  I  felt  more  and  more  that  I  had 
committed  an  act  of  egregious  folly  in  thus  asserting  my 
independence.  I  felt  that  I  was  superior  to  my  station  in 
life,  and  that  I  lived  with  those  who  were  not  companions — 
that  I  had  thrown  away,  by  foolish  pride,  those  prospects 
of  advancement  which  had  offered  themselves,  and  that  I 
was  passing  my  youth  unprofitably.  All  this  crowded 
upon  me  more  and  more  every  day,  and  I  bitterly  repented, 
as  the  Domine  told  me  that  I  should,  my  spirit  of  in- 
dependence— now  that  it  was  too  late.  The  offers  of  Mr 
Drummond  were  never  renewed,  and  Mr  Turnbull,  who 
had  formed  the  idea  that  I  was  still  of  the  same  opinion, 
and  who,  at  the  same  time,  in  his  afflicted  state — for  he 
was  a  martyr  to  the  rheumatism — naturally  thought  more 
of  himself  and  less  of  others,  never  again  proposed  that  I 
should  quit  my  employment.  I  was  still  too  proud  to 
mention  my  wishes,  and  thus  did  I  continue  plying  on  the 
river,  apathetic  almost  as  to  gain,  and  only  happy  when, 
in  the  pages  of  history  or  among  the  flowers  of  poetry,  I 
could  dwell  upon  times  that  were  past,  or  revel  in  imagina- 
tion. Thus  did  reading,  like  the  snake  which  is  said  to 
contain  in  its  body  a  remedy  for  the  poison  of  its  fangs, 
become,  as  it  enlarged  my  mind,  a  source  of  discontent  at 
my  humble  situation ;  but,  at  the  same  time,  the  only 
solace  in  my  unhappiness,  by  diverting  my  thoughts  from 
the  present.  Pass,  then,  nearly  two  years,  reader,  taking 
the  above  remarks  as  an  outline,  and  filling  up  the  picture 
from  the  colours  of  your  imagination,  with  incidents  of  no 
peculiar  value,  and  I  again  resume  my  narrative. 


Jacob  Faithful  343 


Chapter  XXXVII 

A  chapter  of  losses  to  all  but  the  reader,  though  at  first  Tom  works  with 
his  wit,  and  receives  the  full  value  of  his  exertions — We  make  the  very 
worst  bargain  we  ever  made  in  our  lives — We  lose  our  fare,  we  lose  our 
boat,  and  we  lose  our  liberty — All  loss  and  no  profit — Fare  very  unfair — 
Two  guineas'  worth  of  argument,  not  worth  twopence,  except  on  the 
quarter-deck  of  a  man-of-war. 

"  Jacob,"  said  Tom  to  me,  pulling  his  wherry  into  the 
hard  alongside  of  mine,  in  which  I  was  sitting,  with  one  of 
Mr  Turnbull's  books  in  my  hand ;  "  Jacob,  do  you 
recollect  that  my  time  is  up  to-morrow  ?  I  shall  have  run 
off  my  seven  years,  and  when  the  sun  rises,  I  shall  be  free 
of  the  river.     How  much  more  have  you  to  serve  ? " 

"  About  fifteen  months,  as  near  as  I  can  recollect,  Tom, 
—Boat,  sir  ? " 

**  Yes  J  oars,  my  lad  -,  be  smart,  for  I'm  in  a  hurry. 
How's  tide  ?  " 

"  Down,  sir,  very  soon  j  but  it's  now  slack  water. 
Tom,  see  if  you  can  find  Stapleton." 

"Pooh!  never  mind  him,  Jacob,  I'll  go  with  you.  I 
say,  Jones,  tell  old  *  human  natur '  to  look  after  my  boat," 
continued  Tom,  addressing  a  waterman  of  our  acquaint- 
ance. 

*'  I  thought  you  had  come  up  to  see  her^''  said  I  to  Tom, 
as  we  shoved  off. 

'•  See  y?>^r  at  Jericho  first,"  replied  Tom ;  "she's  worse 
than  a  dog  vane." 

"  What,  are  you  tiuo  again  ? " 

"  Two  indeed — it's  all  two — we  are  two  fools.  She  is 
too  fanciful;  I  am  too  fond;  she  behaves  too  ill,  and  I 
put  up  with  too  much.     However,  it's  all  o«^." 

"  I  thought  it  was  all  tiuo  just  now,  Tom." 

"  But  two  may  be  made  one,  Jacob,  you  know." 

"  Yes,  by  the  parson ;  but  you  are  no  parson." 

"  Anyhow,  I  am  something  like  one  just  now,"  replied 


344  Jacob  Faithful 

Tom,  who  was  pulling  the  foremost  oar  j  for  you  are  a 
good  clerk,  and  I  am  sitting  behind  you." 

"  That's  not  so  bad,"  observed  the  gentleman  in  the 
stern  sheets,  whom  we  had  forgotten  in  our  colloquy. 

"  A  waterman  would  make  but  a  bad  parson,  sir," 
replied  Tom. 

"Why  so.?" 

"  He's  not  likely  to  practise  as  he  preaches." 

*'  Again,  why  so  .?" 

"  Because  all  his  life  he  looks  one  way  and  pulls 
another." 

"Very  good — very  good,  indeed." 

'*  Nay,  sir,  good  in  practice,  but  still  not  good  in  deed-^- 
there's  a  puzzle." 

"  A  puzzle,  indeed,  to  find  such  a  regular  chain  of 
repartee  in  a  wherry." 

"  Well,  sir,  if  I'm  a  regular  chain  to-day,  I  shall  be  like 
an  irregular  watch  to-morrow." 

"  Why  so,  my  lad  ? " 

"  Because  I  shall  be  out  of  my  time^ 

"  Take  that,  my  lad,"  said  the  gentleman,  tossing  half- 
a-crown  to  Tom. 

"  Thanky,  sir;  when  we  meet  again  may  you  have  no 
more  wit  than  you  have  now." 

"  How  do  you  mean  ? " 

"  Not  wit  enough  to  keep  your  money,  sir — that's  all }  " 

"  I  presume  you  think  that  I  have  not  got  much." 

"  Which,  sir  ;  wit  or  money  ? " 

"Wit,  my  lad." 

"Nay,  sir,  I  think  you  have  both:  the  first  you 
purchased  just  now  j  and  you  would  hardly  have  bought 
it,  if  you  had  not  money  to  spare." 

"  But  I  mean  wit  of  my  own." 

"  No  man  has  wit  of  his  own ;  if  he  borrows  it,  it's  not 
his  own  ;  if  he  has  it  in  himself,  it's  mother  wit,  so  it's  not  his." 

We  pulled  into  the  stairs  near  London  Bridge,  and  the 
gentleman  paid  me  his  fare.  "  Good-bye,  my  lad,"  said 
he  to  Tom. 


Jacob  Faithful  345 

"■  Fare  you  well,  for  well  you've  paid  your  fare,"  replied 
Tom,  holding  out  his  arm  to  assist  him  out  of  the  boat. 
"Well,  Jacob,  I've  made  more  by  my  head  than  by  my 
hands  this  morning.  I  wonder,  in  the  long  run,  which 
gains  most  in  the  world." 

"  Head,  Tom,  depend  upon  it ;  but  they  work  best 
together." 

Here  we  were  interrupted — "  I  say,  you  waterman, 
have  you  a  mind  for  a  good  fare  ?  "  cried  a  dark  looking, 
not  over  clean,  square-built,  short  young  man,  standing 
on  the  top  of  the  flight  of  steps. 

"  Where  to,  sir  ? " 

"  Gravesend,  my  jokers,  if  you  ar'n't  afraid  of  salt 
water." 

"That's  a  long  way,  sir,"  replied  Tom;  "and  for  salt 
water,  we  must  have  salt  to  our  porridge." 

"  So  you  shall,  my  lads,  and  a  glass  of  grog  into  the 
bargain." 

"  Yes  ;  but  the  bargain  a'n't  made  yet,  sir.  Jacob,  will 
you  go  ? " 

"  Yes,  but  not  under  a  guinea." 

"Not  under  two  guineas,"  replied  Tom,  aside.  "Are 
you  in  a  great  hurry,  sir  ? "  continued  he,  addressing  the 
young  man. 

"  Yes,  in  a  devil  of  a  hurry ;  I  shall  lose  my  ship. 
What  will  you  take  me  for  ? " 

"  Two  guineas,  sir." 

"  Very  well.  Just  come  up  to  the  public-house  here, 
and  put  in  my  traps." 

We  brought  down  his  luggage,  put  it  into  the 
wherry,  and  started  down  the  river  with  the  tide.  Our 
fare  was  very  communicative,  and  we  found  out  that  he 
was  the  master's  mate  of  the  Immorta/ite,  forty-gun  frigate, 
lying  off  Gravesend,  which  was  to  drop  down  next 
morning  and  wait  for  sailing  orders  at  the  Downs.  We 
carried  the  tide  with  us,  and  in  the  afternoon  were  close 
to  the  frigate,  whose  blue  ensign  waved  proudly  over  the 
tafFrail.     There  was  a  considerable  sea  arising  from  the 


34^  Jacob  Faithful 

wind  meeting  the  tide,  and  before  we  arrived  close  to  her, 
we  had  shipped  a  great  deal  of  water  j  and  when  we  were 
alongside,  the  wherry,  with  the  chest  in  her  bows,  pitched 
so  heavily,  that  we  were  afraid  of  being  swamped.  Just 
as  a  rope  had  been  made  fast  to  the  chest,  and  they  were 
weighing  it  out  of  the  wherry,  the  ship's  launch  with 
water  came  alongside,  and,  whether  from  accident,  or 
wilfully,  I  know  not,  although  I  suspect  the  latter,  the 
midshipman  who  steered  her,  shot  her  against  the  wherry, 
which  was  crushed  in,  and  immediately  filled,  leaving  Tom 
and  me  in  the  water,  and  in  danger  of  being  jammed 
to  death  between  the  launch  and  the  side  of  the  frigate. 
The  seamen  in  the  boat,  however,  forced  her  oiF  with 
their  oars,  and  hauled  us  in,  while  our  wherry  sank  with 
her  gunwale  even  with  the  water's  edge,  and  floated  away 
astern. 

As  soor.  as  we  had  shaken  ourselves  a  little,  we  went  up 
the  side,  and  asked  one  of  the  officers  to  send  a  boat  to 
pick  up  our  wherry. 

"Speak  to  the  first  lieutenant — there  he  is,"  was  the 
reply. 

I  went  up  to  the  person  pointed  out  to  me ;  "  if  you 
please,  sir " 

"  What  the  devil  do  you  want  ? " 

"  A  boat,  sir,  to " 

"  A  boat !  the  devil  you  do !  " 

"  To  pick  up  our  wherry,  sir,"  interrupted  Tom. 

"  Pick  it  up  yourself,"  said  the  first  lieutenant,  passing 
us,  and  hailing  the  men  aloft.  "  Maintop,  there,  hook  on 
your  stays.  Be  smart.  Lower  away  the  yards.  Marines 
and  after-guard,  clear  launch.     Boatswain's  mate." 

"  Here,  sir." 

"Pipe  marine,  and  after-guard  to  clear  launch." 

"  Aye,  aye,  sir." 

"  But  we  shall  lose  our  boat,  Jacob,"  said  Tom  to  me. 
"  They  stove  it  in,  and  they  ought  to  pick  it  up."  Tom 
then  went  up  to  the  master's  mate,  whom  he  had  brought 
on  board,  and  explained  our  difficulty. 


Jacob  Faithful  347 

"  Upon  my  soul,  I  dar'n't  say  a  word.  I'm  in  a  scrape 
for  breaking  my  leave.  Why  the  devil  didn't  you  take 
care  of  your  wherry,  and  haul  a-head  when  you  saw  the 
launch  coming  ? " 

**  How  could  we,  when  the  chest  was  hoisting  out  ? " 

"  Very  true.  Well,  I  am  very  sorry  for  you,  but  I 
must  look  after  my  chest."  So  saying,  he  disappeared 
down  the  gangway  ladder. 

"  I'll  try  it  again  anyhow,"  said  Tom,  going  up  to  the 
first  lieutenant.  "  Hard  case  to  lose  our  boat  and  our 
bread,  sir,"  said  Tom,  touching  his  hat. 

The  first  lieutenant,  now  that  the  marines  and  after- 
guard were  at  a  regular  stamp  and  go,  had,  unfortunately, 
more  leisure  to  attend  to  us.  He  looked  at  us  earnestly, 
and  walked  aft  to  see  if  the  wherry  was  yet  in  sight.  At 
that  moment  up  came  the  master's  mate,  who  had  not  yet 
reported  himself  to  the  first  lieutenant. 

*'  Tom,"  said  I,  *'  there  is  a  wherry  close  to,  let  us  get 
into  it,  and  go  after  our  boat  ourselves." 

"Wait  one  moment  to  see  if  they  will  help  us — and  get 
our  money,  at  all  events,"  replied  Tom :  and  we  both 
walked  aft. 

'*  Come  on  board,  sir,"  said  the  master's  mate,  touching 
his  hat  with  humility. 

"  You've  broke  your  leave,  sir,"  replied  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, "  and  now  I've  to  send  a  boat  to  pick  up  the 
wherry  through  your  carelessness." 

"  If  you  please,  they  are  two  very  fine  young  men," 
observed  the  mate.  "  Make  capital  foretopmen.  Boat's 
not  worth  sending  for,  sir." 

This  hint,  given  by  the  mate  to  the  first  lieutenant,  to 
regain  his  favour,  was  not  lost.  "Who  are  you,  my  lads  ?" 
sjud  the  first  lieutenant  to  us. 

"  Watermen,  sir." 

"Watermen,  heh  !  was  that  your  own  boat  ?  " 

"No,  sir,"  replied  I;  "it  belonged  to  the  man  that  I 
serve  with." 

"  O  !  not  your  own  boat  ?    Are  you  an  apprentice,  then  ? " 


348  Jacob  Faithful 

"  Yes,  sir,  both  apprentices." 

"  Show  me  your  indentures." 

"  We  don't  carry  them  about  with  us." 

"  Then,  how  am  I  to  know  that  you  are  apprentices  ?" 

**  We  can  prove  it,  sir,  if  you  wish  it." 

''  I  do  wish  it ;  at  all  events,  the  captain  will  wish  it." 

' '  Will  you  please  to  send  for  the  boat,  sir  ?  she's  almost 
out  of  sight." 

"  No,  my  lads,  I  can't  find  king's  boats  for  such 
service." 

"  Then  we  had  better  go  ourselves,  Tom,"  said  I,  and 
we  went  forward  to  call  the  waterman,  who  was  lying  on 
his  oars  close  to  the  frigate. 

"  Stop — stop — not  so  fast.  Where  are  you  going,  my 
lads  ? " 

"  To  pick  up  our  boat,  sir." 

"  Without  my  leave,  heh  ?  " 

**  We  don't  belong  to  the  frigate,  sir.^' 

"No;  but  I  think  it  very  likely  that  you  will,  for 
you  have  no  protections." 

* '  We  can  send  for  them,  and  have  them  down  by 
to-morrow  morning." 

"  Well,  you  may  do  so,  if  you  please,  my  lads ;  but  you 
cannot  expect  me  to  believe  everything  that  is  told  me. 
Now,  for  instance,  how  long  have  you  to  serve,  my  lad  ? " 
said  he,  addressing  Tom. 

"  My  time  is  up  to-morrow,  sir." 

"  Up  to-morrow.  Why,  then,  I  shall  detain  you  until 
to-morrow,  and  then  I  shall  press  you." 

"If  you  detain  me  now,  sir,  I  am  pressed  to-day." 

"  O  no  !  you  are  only  detained  until  you  prove  your 
apprenticeship,  that's  all." 

"  Nay,  sir,  I  certainly  am  pressed  during  my  apprentice- 
ship." 

"  Not  at  all,  and  I'll  prove  it  to  you.  You  don't  belong 
to  the  ship  until  you  are  victualled  on  her  books.  Now 
I  sha'n't  vidua/  you  to  day,  therefore  you  won't  be 
pressed" 


Jacob  Faithful  349 

"  I  shall  be  pressed  with  hunger  at  all  events,"  replied 
Tom,  who  never  could  lose  a  joke. 

"No  you  sha'n't ;  for  I'll  send  you  both  a  good  dinner 
out  of  the  gun-room.  So  you  won't  be  pressed  at  all,'" 
replied  the  lieutenant,  laughing  at  Tom's  reply. 

*'  You  will  allow  me  to  go,  sir,  at  all  events,"  replied  I ; 
for  I  knew  that  the  only  chance  of  getting  Tom  and 
myself  clear  was  my  hastening  to  Mr  Drummond  for 
assistance. 

"Pooh!  nonsense;  you  must  both  row  in  the  same 
boat  as  you  have  done.  The  fact  is,  my  lads,  I've  taken  a 
great  fancy  to  you  both,  and  I  can't  make  up  my  mind  to 
part  with  you." 

*'  It's  hard  to  lose  our  bread,  this  way,"  replied  I. 

"We  will  find  you  bread,  and  hard  enough  you  will 
find  it,"  replied  the  lieutenant,  laughing;  "it's  like  a 
flint." 

"  So  we  ask  for  bread,  and  you  give  us  a  stone,"  said 
Tom  ;  "  that's  'gainst  Scripture." 

"Very  true,  my  lad;  but  the  fact  is,  all  the  scriptures 
in  the  world  won't  man  the  frigate.  Men  we  must  have, 
and  get  them  how  we  can,  and  where  we  can,  and  when 
we  can.  Necessity  has  no  law ;  at  least  it  obliges  us  to 
break  through  all  laws.  After  all,  there's  no  great  hard- 
ship in  serving  the  king  for  a  year  or  two,  and  filling  your 
pockets  with  prize-money.     Suppose  you  volunteer  ?  " 

"  Will  you  allow  us  to  go  on  shore  for  half  an  hour  to 
think  about  it  ? "  replied  I. 

"No;  I'm  afraid  of  the  crimps  dissuading  you.  But 
I'll  give  you  till  to-morrow  morning,  and  then  I  shall  be 
sure  of  one  at  all  events." 

"  Thanky  for  me,"  replied  Tom. 

"  You're  very  welcome,"  replied  the  first  lieutenant,  as, 
laughing  at  us,  he  went  down  the  companion-ladder  to  his 
dinner. 

"Well,  Jacob,  we  are  in  for  it,"  said  Tom,  as  soon  as 
we  were  alone.  "  Depend  upon  it  there's  no  mistake  this 
time." 


^^o  Jacob  Faithful 

"  I  am  afraid  not,"  replied  I,  "  unless  we  can  get  a  letter 
to  your  father,  or  Mr  Drummond,  who,  I  am  sure,  would 
help  us.  But  that  dirty  fellow  who  gave  the  lieutenant 
the  hint,  said  the  frigate  sailed  to-morrow  morning ;  there 
he  is,  let  us  speak  to  him." 

"  When  does  the  frigate  sail  ? "  said  Tom  to  the  master's 
mate,  who  was  walking  the  deck. 

"  My  good  fellow,  it's  not  the  custom  on  board  of  a 
man-of-war  for  men  to  ask  officers  to  answer  such  im- 
pertinent questions.  It's  quite  sufficient  for  you  to  know 
that  when  the  frigate  sails,  you  will  have  the  honour  of 
sailing  in  her." 

'*  Well,  sir,"  replied  I,  nettled  at  his  answer,  "  at  all 
events  you  will  have  the  goodness  to  pay  us  our  fare.  We 
have  lost  our  wherry,  and  our  liberty,  perhaps,  through 
you  j  we  may  as  well  have  our  two  guineas." 

"  Two  guineas  !     It's  two  guineas  you  want,  heh  ? " 

*'  Yes,  sir,  that  was  the  fare  agreed  upon." 

"  Why,  you  must  observe,  my  men,"  said  the  master's 
mate,  hooking  a  thumb  into  each  armhole  of  his  waistcoat, 
"  there  must  be  a  little  explanation  as  to  that  affair.  I 
promised  you  two  guineas  as  watermen ;  but  now  that  you 
belong  to  a  man-of-war,  you  are  no  longer  watermen.  I 
always  pay  my  debts  honourably  when  I  can  find  the  lawful 
creditors  ;  but  where  are  the  watermen  ?  " 

"  Here  we  are,  sir." 

*'  No,  my  lads,  you  are  men-of-war's  men  now,  and  that 
quite  alters  the  case." 

"  But  we  are  not  so  yet,  sir ;  even  if  it  did  alter  the  case, 
we  are  not  pressed  yet." 

"  Well,  then,  you'll  be  to-morrow,  perhaps  ;  at  all  events 
we  shall  see.  If  you  are  allowed  to  go  on  shore  again,  I 
owe  you  two  guineas  as  watermen  ;  and  if  you  are  detained 
as  men-of-war's  men,  why  then  you  will  only  have  done 
your  duty  in  pulling  down  one  of  your  officers.  You  see, 
my  lads,  I  say  nothing  but  what's  fair." 

"Well,  sir,  but  when  you  hired  us  we  were  watermen," 
replied  Tom. 


Jacob  Faithful  351 

"  Very  true,  so  you  were ;  but  recollect  the  two  guineas 
were  not  due  until  you  had  completed  your  task,  which  was 
not  until  you  came  on  board.  When  you  came  on  board 
you  were  pressed,  and  became  men-of-war's  men.  You 
should  have  asked  for  your  fare  before  the  first  lieutenant 
got  hold  of  you.  Don't  you  perceive  the  justice  of  my 
remarks  ?  " 

"  Can't  say  I  do,  sir ;  but  I  perceive  there's  very  little 
chance  of  our  being  paid,"  said  Tom. 

"  You  are  a  lad  of  discrimination,"  replied  the  master's 
mate.  "  And  now  I  advise  you  to  drop  the  subject,  or  you 
may  induce  me  to  pay  you  '  man-of-war  fashion.' " 

"How's  that,  sir?" 

"  Over  the  face  and  eyes,  as  the  cat  paid  the  monkey," 
replied  the  master's  mate,  walking  leisurely  away. 

"No  go,  Tom,"  said  I,  smiling  at  the  absurdity  of  the 
arguments. 

"  I'm  afraid  it's  no  go  in  every  way,  Jacob.  However,  I 
don't  care  much  about  it.  I  have  had  a  little  hankering 
after  seeing  the  world,  and  perhaps  now's  as  well  as  any 
other  time ;  but  I'm  sorry  for  you,  Jacob." 

"  It's  ail  my  own  fault,"  replied  I ;  and  I  fell  into  one  of 
those  reveries  so  often  indulged  in  of  late,  as  to  the  folly  of 
my  conduct  in  asserting  my  independence,  which  had  now 
ended  in  my  losing  my  liberty.  But  we  were  cold  from 
the  ducking  we  had  received,  and  moreover,  very  hungry. 
The  first  lieutenant  did  not  forget  his  promise :  he  sent  us 
up  a  good  dinner,  and  a  glass  of  grog  each,  which  we  dis- 
cussed under  the  half-deck,  between  two  of  the  guns.  We 
had  some  money  in  our  pockets,  and  we  purchased  some 
sheets  of  paper  from  the  bumboat  people,  who  were  on 
the  main-deck  supplying  the  seamen ;  and  I  wrote  to  Mr 
Drummond  and  Mr  Turnbull,  as  well  as  to  Mary  and  old 
Tom,  requesting  the  two  latter  to  forward  our  clothes  to 
Deal,  in  case  of  our  being  detained.  Tom  also  wrote  to 
comfort  his  mother,  and  the  greatest  comfort  which  he  could 
give  was,  as  he  said,  to  promise  to  keep  sober.  Having 
entrusted  these  letters  to  the  bumboat  woman,  who  promised 


^5'2  Jacob  Faithful 

faithfully  to  put  them  into  the  post-office,  we  had  then 
nothing  else  to  do  but  to  look  out  for  some  place  to  sleep. 
Our  clothes  had  dried  on  us,  and  we  were  walking  under 
the  half-deck :  but  not  a  soul  spoke  to,  or  even  took  the 
least  notice  of  us.  In  a  newly  manned  ship  just  ready  to 
sail,  there  is  a  universal  feeling  of  selfishness  prevailing 
among  the  ship's  company.  Some,  if  not  most,  had,  like 
us,  been  pressed,  and  their  thoughts  were  occupied  with 
their  situation,  and  the  change  in  their  prospects.  Others 
were  busy  making  their  little  arrangements  with  their  wives 
or  relations ;  while  the  mass  of  the  seamen,  not  yet 
organised  by  discipline,  or  known  to  each  other,  were  in  a 
state  of  disunion  and  individuality,  which  naturally  induced 
every  man  to  look  after  himself  without  caring  for  his 
neighbour.  We  therefore  could  not  expect,  nor  did  we 
receive,  any  sympathy  ;  we  were  in  a  scene  of  bustle  and 
noise,  yet  alone.  A  spare  top-sail,  which  had  been  stowed 
for  the  present  between  two  of  the  guns,  was  the  best 
accommodation  which  offered  itself.  We  took  possession 
of  it,  and  tired  with  exertion  of  mind  and  body,  were  soon 
fast  asleep. 


Chapter  XXXVIII 

There  are  many  ups  and  downs  in  this  world — We  find  ourselves  in  the 
Downs — Our  captain  comes  on  board,  and  gives  us  a  short  sermon  upon 
antipathies,  which  most  of  us  never  heard  the  like  of — He  sets  us  all  upon 
the  go,  with  his  stop  watch,  and  never  calls  the  watch,  until  the  watch 
is  satisfied  with  all  hands. 

At  daylight  the  next  morning,  we  were  awakened  with  a 
start  by  the  shrill  whistles  of  the  boatswain  and  his  mates 
piping  all  hands  to  unmoor.  The  pilot  was  on  board,  and 
the  wind  was  fair.  As  the  frigate  had  no  anchor  down, 
but  was  hanging  to  the  moorings  in  the  river,  we  had 
nothing  to  do  but  to  cast  off,  sheet  home,  and  in  less  than 
half  an  hour,  we  were  under  all  sail,  stemming  the  last 
quarter  of  the  flood  tide.     Tom  and  I  had  remained  on  the 


Jacob  Faithful  ^^^ 

gangway,  watching  the  proceedings,  but  not  assisting,  when 
the  ship  being  fairly  under  sail,  the  order  was  given  by  the 
first  lieutenant  to  coil  down  the  ropes. 

"I  think,  Jacob,  we  may  as  well  help,"  said  Tom, 
laying  hold  of  the  main  tack,  which  was  passed  aft,  and 
hauling  it  forward. 

"  "With  all  my  heart,"  replied  I,  and  I  hauled  it  forward, 
while  he  coiled  it  away. 

While  we  were  thus  employed  the  first  lieutenant 
walked  forward  and  recognised  us.  "  That's  what  I 
like,  my  lads,"  said  hej  "you  don't  sulk,  I  see,  and  I 
sha'n't  forget  it." 

"  I  hope  you  wo'n't  forget  that  we  are  apprentices,  sir, 
and  allow  us  to  go  on  shore,"  replied  I. 

"  I've  a  shocking  bad  memory  in  some  things,"  was 
his  reply,  as  he  continued  forward  to  the  forecastle. 
He  did  not,  however,  forget  to  victual  us  that  day,  and 
insert  our  names,  in  pencil,  upon  the  ship's  books ;  but 
we  were  not  put  into  any  mess,  or  stationed. 

We  anchored  in  the  Downs  on  the  following  morning. 
It  came  on  to  blow  hard  in  the  afternoon,  and  there  was 
no  communication  with  the  shore,  except  by  signals,  until 
the  third  day,  when  it  moderated,  and  the  signal  was 
made,  "  Prepare  to  weigh,  and  send  boat  for  captain." 
In  the  meantime,  several  boats  came  off,  and  one  had  the 
postman  on  board.  I  had  letters  from  Mr  Drummond 
and  Mr  Turnbull,  telling  me  that  they  would  im.medi- 
ately  apply  to  the  Admiralty  for  our  being  liberated, 
and  one  from  Mary,  half  of  which  was  for  me,  and  the 
rest  to  Tom.  Stapleton  had  taken  Tom's  wherry  and 
pulled  down  to  old  Tom  Beazeley,  with  my  clothes, 
which,  with  young  Tom's,  had  been  despatched  to  Deal. 
Tom  had  a  letter  from  his  mother,  half  indited  by  his 
father,  and  the  rest  from  herself ;  but  I  shall  not  trouble 
the  reader  with  the  contents,  as  he  may  imagine  what  was 
likely  to  be  said  upon  such  an  occasion. 

Shortly  afterwards  our  clothes,  which  had  been  sent 
to  the  care   of  an   old  shipmate  of  Tom's  father,  were 

J.F.  Z 


354  Jacob  Faithful 

brought  on  board,  and  we  hardly  had  received  them, 
when  the  signalman  reported  that  the  captain  was  coming 
off.  There  were  so  many  of  the  men  in  the  frigate  who 
had  never  seen  the  captain,  that  no  little  anxiety  was 
shown  by  the  ship's  company  to  ascertain  how  far,  by  the 
"  cut  of  his  jib,''^  that  is,  his  outward  appearance,  they 
might  draw  conclusions  as  to  what  they  might  expect 
from  one  who  had  such  unlimited  power  to  make  them 
happy  or  miserable.  I  was  looking  out  of  the  maindeck 
port  with  Tom,  when  the  gig  pulled  alongside,  and  was 
about  to  scrutinise  the  outward  and  visible  signs  of  the 
captain,  when  I  was  attracted  by  the  face  of  a  lieutenant 
sitting  by  his  side,  whom  I  immediately  recognised.  It 
was  Mr  Wilson,  the  officer  who  had  spun  the  oar  and 
sunk  the  wherry,  from  which,  as  the  reader  may  re- 
member, I  rescued  my  friends,  the  senior  and  junior 
clerk.  I  was  overjoyed  at  this,  as  I  hoped  that  he  would 
interest  himself  in  our  favour.  The  pipe  of  the  boat- 
swain re-echoed  as  the  captain  ascended  the  side.  He 
appeared  on  the  quarter-deck — every  hat  descending  to 
do  him  honour ;  the  marines  presented  arms,  and  the 
marine  officer  at  their  head  lowered  the  point  of  his  sword. 
In  return,  the  omnipotent  personage,  taking  his  cocked 
hat  with  two  fingers  and  a  thumb,  by  the  highest  peak, 
lifted  it  one  inch  off  his  head,  and  replaced  it,  desiring  the 
marine  officer  to  dismiss  the  guard.  I  had  now  an 
opportunity,  as  he  paced  to  and  fro  with  the  first  lieu- 
tenant, to  examine  his  appearance.  He  was  a  tall,  very 
large  boned,  gaunt  man,  with  an  enormous  breadth  of 
shoulders,  displaying  Herculean  strength  (and  this  we 
found  he  eminently  possessed).  His  face  was  of  a  size 
corresponding  to  his  large  frame ;  his  features  were 
harsh,  his  eye  piercing,  but  his  nose,  although  bold,  was 
handsome,  and  his  capacious  mouth  was  furnished  with 
the  most  splendid  row  of  large  teeth  that  I  ever  beheld. 
The  character  of  his  countenance  was  determination 
rather  than  severity.  "When  he  smiled,  the  expression 
was    agreeable.       His    gestures    and    his    language   were 


Jacob  Faithful  ^^$ 

emphatic,  and  the  planks  trembled  with  his  elephantine 
walk. 

He  had  been  on  board  about  ten  minutes,  when  he 
desired  the  first  lieutenant  to  turn  the  hands  up,  and  all 
the  men  were  ordered  on  the  larboard  side  of  the  quarter- 
deck. As  soon  as  they  were  all  gathered  together,  look- 
ing with  as  much  awe  of  the  captain  as  a  flock  of  sheep 
at  a  strange,  mischief-meaning  dog,  he  thus  addressed 
them :  "  My  lads,  as  it  so  happens  that  we  are  all  to 
trust  to  the  same  planks,  it  may  be  just  as  well  that 
we  should  understand  one  another.  I  /ike  to  see  my 
officers  attentive  to  their  duty,  and  behave  themselves  as 
gentlemen.  I  like  to  see  my  men  well  disciplined,  active, 
and  sober.  What  I  /ike  I  nvi//  have — you  understand  me. 
Now,"  continued  he,  putting  on  a  stern  look — "  now  just 
look  in  my  face,  and  see  if  you  think  you  can  play  with 
me."  The  men  looked  in  his  face,  and  saw  that  there 
was  no  chance  of  playing  with  him ;  and  so  they  expressed 
by  their  countenances.  The  captain  appeared  satisfied  by 
their  mute  acknowledgments,  and  to  encourage  them, 
smiled,  and  showed  his  white  teeth,  as  he  desired  the 
first  lieutenant  to  pipe  down. 

As  soon  as  the  scene  was  over,  I  walked  up  to  Mr 
Wilson,  the  lieutenant,  who  was  standing  aft,  and  accosted 
him.  "  Perhaps,  sir,  you  do  not  recollect  me  ;  but  we 
met  one  night  when  you  were  sinking  in  a  wherry,  and 
you  asked  my  name." 

*'  And  I  recollect  it,  my  lad  j  it  was  Faithful,  was  it 
not  ?  " 

*'  Yes,  sir,"  and  I  then  entered  into  an  explanation  of 
our  circumstances,  and  requested  his  advice  and  assistance. 

He  shook  his  head.  "  Our  captain,"  said  he,  "  is  a  very 
strange  person.  He  has  commanding  interest,  and  will  do 
more  in  defiance  of  the  rules  of  the  Admiralty,  than  any 
one  in  the  service.  If  an  Admiralty  order  came  down  to 
discharge  you,  he  would  obey  it  •,  but  as  for  regulations, 
he  cares  very  little  for  them.  Besides,  we  sail  in  an  hour. 
However,  I  will  speak  to  him,  although  I  shall  probably 


^^6  Jacob  Faithful 

get  a  rap  on  the  knuckles,  as  it  is  the  business  of  the  first 
lieutenant,  and  not  mine." 

*'  But,  sir,  if  you  requested  the  first  lieutenant  to 
speak  ? " 

"  If  I  did,  he  would  not,  in  all  probability ;  men  are  too 
valuable,  and  the  first  lieutenant  knows  that  the  captain 
would  not  like  to  discharge  you.  He  will,  therefore,  say 
nothing  until  it  is  too  late,  and  then  throw  all  the  blame 
upon  himself  for  forgetting  it.  Our  captain  has  such  in- 
terest that  his  recommendation  would  give  a  commander's 
rank  to-morrow,  and  we  must  all  take  care  of  ourselves. 
However,  I  will  try,  although  I  can  give  you  very  little 
hopes." 

Mr  Wilson  went  up  to  the  captain,  who  was  still 
walking  with  the  first  lieutenant,  and  touching  his  hat 
introduced  the  subject,  stating,  as  an  apology,  that  he  was 
acquainted  with  me. 

'*  Oh,  if  the  man  is  an  acquaintance  of  yours,  Mr 
Wilson,  we  certainly  must  decide,"  replied  the  captain 
with  mock  politeness,  "  Where  is  he  ?  "  I  advanced,  and 
Tom  followed  me.  We  stated  our  case.  "  I  always  like 
to  put  people  out  of  suspense,"  said  the  captain,  "  because 
it  unsettles  a  man — so  now  hear  me ;  if  I  happened  to 
press  one  of  the  blood  royal,  and  the  king,  and  the  queen, 
and  all  the  little  princesses  were  to  go  down  on  their 
knees,  I'd  keep  him,  without  an  Admiralty  order  for  his 
discharge.  Now,  my  lads,  do  you  perceive  your  chance  ? " 
Then  turning  away  to  Mr  Wilson,  he  said,  "  You  will 
oblige  me  by  stating  upon  what  grounds  you  ventured  to 
interfere  in  behalf  of  these  men,  and  I  trust  your  explana- 
tion will  be  satisfactory.  Mr  Knight,"  continued  he,  to  the 
first  lieutenant,  "  send  these  men  down  below,  watch,  and 
station  them." 

We  went  below  by  the  gangway  ladder,  and  watched 
the  conference  between  the  captain  and  Mr  Wilson,  who 
we  were  afraid  had  done  himself  no  good  by  trying  to 
assist  us.  But  when  it  was  over,  the  captain  appeared 
pleased,  and  Mr  Wilson  walked  away  with  a  satisfied  air.. 


Jacob  Faithful  ^$y 

As  I  afterwards  discovered  it  did  me  no  little  good.  The 
hands  were  piped  to  dinner,  and  after  dinner  we  weighed 
and  made  sail,  and  thus  were  Tom  and  I  fairly,  or  rather 
unfairly,  embarked  in  his  Majesty's  service. 

"Well,  Tom,"  said  I,  "it's  no  use  -crying.  What's 
done  can't  be  helped  ;  here  we  are  ;  now  let  us  do  all  we 
can  to  make  friends." 

"  That's  just  my  opinion,  Jacob.  Hang  care  •,  it  killed 
the  cat ;  I  shall  make  the  best  of  it,  and  I  don't  see  why 
we  may  not  be  as  happy  here  as  anywhere  else.  Father 
says  we  may,  if  we  do  our  duty,  and  I  don't  mean  to  shirk 
mine.  The  more  the  merrier,  they  say,  and  I'll  be  hanged 
but  there's  enough  of  us  here." 

I  hardly  need  say,  that  for  the  first  three  or  four  days 
we  were  not  very  comfortable  ;  we  had  been  put  into  the 
seventh  mess,  and  were  stationed  in  the  foretop ;  for 
although  we  had  not  been  regularly  bred  up  as  seamen, 
the  first  lieutenant  so  decided,  saying,  that  he  was  sure 
that,  in  a  few  weeks,  there  would  be  no  smarter  men  in 
the  ship. 

We  were  soon  clear  of  the  Channel,  and  all  hands  were 
anxious  to  know  our  destination,  which,  in  this  almost 
solitary  instance,  had  been  really  kept  a  secret,  although 
surmises  were  correct.  There  is  one  point,  which  by  the 
present  arrangements  invariably  makes  known  whether  a 
ship  is  "  fitting  foreign,"  or  for  home  service,  which  is,  by 
the  stores  and  provisions  ordered  on  board  •,  and  these 
stores  are  so  arranged,  according  to  the  station  to  which 
the  vessel  is  bound,  that  it  is  generally  pretty  well  known 
what  her  destination  is  to  be.  This  is  bad,  and  at  the 
same  time  easily  remedied ;  for  if  every  ship,  whether  for 
home  service  or  foreign,  was  ordered  to  fit  foreign,  no  one 
would  be  able  to  ascertain  where  she  was  about  to  proceed. 
With  a  very  little  trouble  strict  secrecy  might  be  preserved, 
now  that  the  Navy  Board  is  abolished ;  but  during  its 
existence  that  was  impossible.  The  Imntortalite  was  a  very 
fast  sailing  vessel,  and  when  the  captain  (whose  name  I 
have  forgotten  to  mention,  it  was  Hector  Maclean)  opened 


358  Jacob  Faithful 

his  sealed  orders,  we  found  that  we  were  to  cruise  for  two 
months  between  the  Western  Isles  and  Madeira,  in  quest 
of  some  privateers,  which  had  captured  many  of  our  out- 
ward bound  West  Indiamen,  notwithstanding  that  they 
were  well  protected  by  convoy,  and,  after  that  period,  to 
join  the  admiral  at  Halifax,  and  relieve  a  frigate  which  had 
been  many  years  on  that  station.  In  a  week  we  were  on 
our  station,  the  weather  was  fine,  and  the  whole  of  the 
day  was  passed  in  training  the  men  to  the  guns,  small  arms, 
making  and  shortening  sail,  reefing  topsails,  and  manoeu- 
vring the  ship.  The  captain  would  never  give  up  his  point, 
and  sometimes  we  were  obliged  to  make  or  shorten  sail 
twenty  times  running  until  he  was  satisfied. 

"  My  lads,"  he  would  say  to  the  ship's  company,  sending 
for  them  aft,  "  you  have  done  this  pretty  well ;  you  have 
only  been  two  minutes  ;  not  bad  for  a  new  ship's  company, 
but  I  like  it  done  in  a  minute  and  a  half.  We'll  try  again." 
And  sure  enough  it  was  try  again,  until  in  the  minute  and 
a  half  it  was  accomplished.  Then  the  captain  would  say, 
"I  knew  you  could  do  it,  and  having  once  done  it,  my 
lads,  of  course  you  can  do  it  again." 

Tom  and  I  adhered  to  our  good  resolutions.  We  were 
as  active  and  as  forward  as  we  could  be ;  and  Mr  Knight, 
the  first  lieutenant,  pointed  us  out  to  the  captain.  As  soon 
as  the  merits  of  the  different  men  were  ascertained,  several 
alterations  were  made  in  the  watch  and  station  bills,  as 
well  as  in  the  ratings  on  the  ship's  books,  and  Tom  and  I 
were  made  second  captains,  larboard  and  starboard,  of  the 
foretop.  This  was  great  promotion  for  so  young  hands, 
especially  as  we  were  not  bred  as  regular  sailors ;  but  it 
was  for  the  activity  and  zeal  which  we  displayed.  Tom 
was  a  great  favourite  among  the  men,  always  joking,  and 
ready  for  any  lark  or  nonsense ;  moreover  he  used  to 
mimic  the  captain,  which  few  others  dared  do.  He 
certainly  seldom  ventured  to  do  it  below ;  it  was  generally 
in  the  foretop,  where  he  used  to  explain  to  the  men  what 
he  liked.  One  day  we  both  ventured  it,  but  it  was  on  an 
occasion  which  excused  it.     Tom  and  I  were  aft,  sitting  in 


Jacob  Faithful  359 

the  jolly  boat  astern,  fitting  some  of  her  gear,  for  we 
belonged  to  the  boat  at  that  time,  although  we  were  after- 
wards shifted  into  the  cutter.  The  frigate  was  going 
about  four  knots  through  the  water,  and  the  sea  was 
pretty  smooth.  One  of  the  marines  fell  overboard,  out  of 
the  forechains.  "Man  overboard,"  was  cried  out  immedi- 
ately, and  the  men  were  busy  clearing  away  the  starboard 
cutter,  with  all  the  expedition  requisite  on  such  an  occasion. 
The  captain  was  standing  aft  on  the  signal  chest,  when  the 
marine  passed  astern ;  the  poor  fellow  could  not  swim,  and 
Tom  turning  to  me  said,  "Jacob,  I  should  /ike  to  save  that 
jolly,"  and  immediately  dashed  overboard. 

"  And  I  should  /ike  to  help  you,  Tom,"  cried  I,  and 
followed  him. 

The  captain  was  close  to  us,  and  heard  us  both.  Be- 
tween us,  we  easily  held  up  the  marine,  and  the  boat  had 
us  all  on  board  in  less  than  a  minute.  When  we  came  up 
the  side,  the  captain  was  at  the  gangway.  He  showed  his 
white  teeth,  and  shook  the  telescope  in  his  hand  at  us.  "I 
heard  you  both ;  and  I  should  /ike  to  have  a  good  many 
more  impudent  fellows  like  you." 

We  continued  our  cruise,  looking  sharp  out  for  the 
privateers,  but  without  success ;  we  then  touched  at 
Madeira  for  intelligence,  and  were  informed  that  they  had 
been  seen  more  to  the  southward.  The  frigate's  head 
was  turned  in  that  direction  until  we  were  abreast  of  the 
Canary  Isles,  and  then  we  traversed  east  and  west,  north 
or  south,  just  as  the  wind  and  weather,  or  the  captain's 
/ike  thought  proper.  We  had  now  cruised  seven  weeks 
out  of  our  time  without  success,  and  the  captain  promised 
five  guineas  to  the  man  who  should  discover  the  objects  of 
our  search.  Often  did  Tom  and  I  climb  to  the  masthead 
and  scan  the  horizon,  and  so  did  many  others  :  but  those 
who  were  stationed  at  the  look-out  were  equally  on  the 
alert.  The  ship's  company  were  now  in  a  very  fair  state 
of  discipline,  owing  to  the  incessant  practice,  and  every 
evening  the  hands  were  turned  up  to  skylark,  that  is,  to 
play  and  amuse  themselves.     There  was  one  amusement 


360  Jacob  Faithful 

which  was  the  occasion  of  a  great  deal  of  mirth,  and  it 
was  a  favourite  one  of  the  captain's,  as  it  made  the  men 
smart.  It  is  called,  "  Follow  my  leader."  One  of  the 
men  leads,  and  all  who  choose,  follow  him  :  sometimes 
forty  or  fifty  will  join.  Whatever  the  leader  does,  the 
rest  must  do  also ;  wherever  he  goes  they  must  follow. 
Tom,  who  was  always  the  foremost  for  fun,  was  one  day 
the  leader,  and  after  having  scampered  up  the  rigging, 
laid  out  on  the  yards,  climbed  in  by  the  lifts,  crossed  from 
mast  to  mast  by  the  stays,  slid  down  by  the  backstays, 
blacked  his  face  in  the  funnel,  in  all  which  motions  he  was 
followed  by  about  thirty  others,  hallowing  and  laughing, 
while  the  officers  and  other  men  were  looking  on  and 
admiring  their  agility,  a  novel  idea  came  into  Tom's  head ; 
it  was  then  about  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  the  ship 
was  lying  becalmed,  Tom  again  sprang  up  the  rigging, 
laid  out  to  the  main  yard-arm,  followed  by  me  and  the 
rest,  and  as  soon  as  he  was  at  the  boom  iron,  he  sprang  up, 
holding  by  the  lift,  and  crying  out,  "  Follow  my  leader," 
leaped  from  the  yard-arm  into  the  sea.  I  was  second,  and 
crying  out,  "Follow  my  leader"  to  the  rest,  I  followed 
him,  and  the  others,  whether  they  could  swim  or  not,  did 
the  same,  it  being  a  point  of  honour  not  to  refuse. 

The  captain  was  just  coming  up  the  ladder,  when  he 
saw,  as  he  imagined,  a  man  tumble  overboard,  which  was 
Tom  in  his  descent;  but  how  much  more  was  he  astonished 
at  seeing  twenty  or  thirty  more  tumbling  off  by  twos  or 
threes,  until  it  appeared  that  half  the  ship's  company  were 
overboard.  He  thought  that  they  were  possessed  with 
devils,  like  the  herd  of  swine  in  the  Scriptures.  Some  of 
the  men  who  could  not  swim,  but  were  too  proud  to  refuse 
to  follow,  were  nearly  drowned.  As  it  was  the  first 
lieutenant  was  obliged  to  lower  the  cutter  to  pick  them 
up,  and  they  were  all  brought  on  board. 

"  Confound  that  fellow,"  said  the  captain  to  the  first 
lieutenant ;  "he  is  always  at  the  head  of  all  mischief. 
Follow  my  leader,  indeed  !  Send  Tom  Beazeley  here." 
We  all  thought  that  Tom  was  about  to  catch  it.     "  Hark 


Jacob  Faithful  361 

ye,  my  lad,"  said  the  captain,  "a  joke's  a  joke,  but  every- 
body can't  swim  as  well  as  you.  I  can't  afford  to  lose  any 
of  my  men  by  your  pranks,  so  don't  try  that  again — I  don't 
like  it." 

Every  one  thought  that  Tom  got  off  very  cheaply ;  but 
he  was  a  favourite  with  the  captain,  although  that  never 
appeared  but  indirectly.  "  Beg  pardon,  sir,"  replied  Tom, 
with  great  apparent  humility,  "but  they  were  all  so  dirty — 
they'd  blacked  themselves  at  the  funnel,  and  I  thought  a 
little  washing  would  not  do  them  any  harm." 

"  Be  off,  sir,  and  recollect  what  I  have  said,"  replied  the 
captain,  turning  away,  and  showing  his  white  teeth. 

I  heard  the  first  lieutenant  say  to  the  captain,  "  He's 
worth  any  ten  men  in  the  ship,  sir.  He  keeps  them  all 
alive  and  merry,  and  sets  such  a  good  example." 


Chapter    XXXIX 

"To  be,  or  not  to  be,"  that  is  the  question — Splinters  on  board  of  a  man-of- 
war,  very  different  from  splinters  in  the  finger  on  shore — Tom  prevents 
this  narrative  from  being  wound  up  by  my  going  down — I  receive  a 
lawyer's  letter,  and  instead  of  being  annoyed,  am  delighted  with  it. 

In  the  meantime  Tom  had  gone  up  to  the  fore-royal  yard, 
and  was  looking  round  for  the  five  guineas,  and  just  as  the 
conversation  was  going  on,  cried  out,  "  Sail  ho  !  " 

"  Strange  sail  reported." 

"Where  ?"  cried  the  first  lieutenant,  going  forward. 

"  Right  under  the  sun." 

"  Mast-head  there — do  you  make  her  out  ? " 

"  Yes,  sir ;  I  think  she's  a  schooner  -,  but  I  can  only  see 
down  to  her  mainyard." 

"  That's  one  of  them,  depend  upon  it,"  said  the  captain. 
*'Up  there,  Mr  Wilson,  and  see  what  you  make  of  her. 
Who  is  the  man  who  reported  it  ? " 

"  Tom  Beazeley,  sir." 

"  Confound  the  fellow,  he  makes  all  my  ship's  company 


362  Jacob  Faithful 

jump  overboard,  and  now  I  must  give  him  five  guineas. 
What  do  you  make  of  her,  Mr  Wilson  ? " 

"  A  low  schooner,  sir,  very  rakish  indeed,  black  sides. 
I  cannot  make  out  her  ports ;  but  I  should  think  she  can 
show  a  very  pretty  set  of  teeth.  She  is  becalmed  as  well 
as  we." 

"  Well,  then,  we  must  whistle  for  a  breeze.  In  the 
meantime,  Mr  Knight,  we  will  have  the  boats  all 
ready." 

If  you  whistle  long  enough  the  wind  is  certain  to  come. 
In  about  an  hour  the  breeze  did  come,  and  we  took  it 
down  with  us  5  but  it  was  too  dark  to  distinguish  the 
schooner,  which  we  had  lost  sight  of  as  soon  as  the  sun 
had  set.  About  midnight  the  breeze  failed  us,  and  it 
was  again  calm.  The  captain  and  most  of  the  officers 
were  up  all  night,  and  the  watch  were  employed  preparing 
the  boats  for  service.  It  was  my  morning  watch,  and  at 
break  of  day  I  saw  the  schooner  from  the  foretop-sail-yard, 
about  four  miles  to  the  N.W.  I  ran  down  on  deck,  and 
reported  her. 

"Very  good,  my  lad.  I  have  her,  Mr  Knight,''  said 
the  captain,  who  had  directed  his  glass  to  where  I  pointed ; 
"  and  I  will  have  her  too,  one  way  or  the  other.  No  signs 
of  wind.  Lower  down  the  cutters.  Get  the  yards  and 
stays  hooked  all  ready.  We'll  wait  a  little,  and  see  a  little 
more  of  her  when  it's  broad  daylight." 

At  broad  daylight  the  schooner,  with  her  appointments, 
was  distinctly  to  be  made  out.  She  was  pierced  for 
sixteen  guns,  and  was  a  formidable  vessel  to  encounter 
with  the  boats.  The  calm  still  continuing,  the  launch, 
yawl  and  pinnace  were  hoisted  out,  manned,  and  armed. 
The  schooner  got  out  her  sweeps,  and  was  evidently 
preparing  for  their  reception.  Still  the  captain  appeared 
unwilling  to  risk  the  lives  of  his  men  in  such  a  dangerous 
conflict,  and  there  we  all  lay  alongside,  each  man  sitting 
in  his  place  with  his  oar  raised  on  end.  Cat's-paws  of 
wind,  as  they  call  them,  flew  across  the  water  here  and 
there,  ruffling  its  smooth  surface,  portending  that  a  breeze 


Jacob  Faithful  363 

would  soon  spring  up,  and  the  hopes  of  this  chance 
rendered  the  captain  undecided.  Thus  did  we  remain 
alongside,  for  Tom  and  I  were  stationed  in  the  first  and 
second  cutters,  until  twelve  o'clock,  when  we  were 
ordered  out  to  take  a  hasty  dinner,  and  the  allowance  of 
spirits  was  served  out.  At  one,  it  was  still  calm.  Had 
we  started  when  the  boats  were  first  hoisted  out,  the 
affair  would  have  been  long  before  decided.  At  last,  the 
captain  perceiving  that  the  chance  of  a  breeze  was  still 
smaller  then  than  in  the  forenoon,  ordered  the  boats  to 
shove  off.  We  were  still  about  the  same  distance  from 
the  privateer,  from  three  and  a  half  to  four  miles.  In  less 
than  half  an  hour  we  were  within  gun-shot ;  the  privateer 
swept  her  broadside  to  us,  and  commenced  firing  guns 
with  single  round  shot,  and  with  great  precision.  They 
ricochetted  over  the  boats,  and  at  every  shot,  we  made  sure 
of  our  being  struck.  At  this  time  a  slight  breeze  swept 
along  the  water.  It  reached  the  schooner,  filled  her  sails, 
and  she  increased  her  distance.  Again  it  died  away,  and 
we  neared  her  fast.  She  swept  round  again,  and  recom- 
menced firing,  and  one  of  her  shot  passed  through  the 
second  cutter,  in  which  I  was  stationed,  ripping  open  three 
of  her  planks,  and  wounding  two  men  besides  me.  The 
boat,  heavy  with  the  gun,  ammunition  chests,  &c.,  immedi- 
ately filled  and  turned  over  with  us,  and  it  was  with 
difficulty  that  we  could  escape  from  the  weighty  hamper 
that  was  poured  out  of  her.  One  of  the  poor  fellows, 
who  had  not  been  wounded,  remained  entangled  under 
the  boat,  and  never  rose  again.  The  remainder  of  the 
crew  rose  to  the  surface  and  clung  to  the  side  of  the  boat. 
The  first  cutter  hauled  to  our  assistance,  for  we  had 
separated  to  render  the  shot  less  effectual ;  but  it  was 
three  or  four  minutes  before  she  was  able  to  render  us  any 
assistance,  during  which  time  the  other  two  wounded  men, 
who  had  been  apparently  injured  in  the  legs  or  body, 
exhausted  with  loss  of  blood,  gradually  unloosed  their 
holds  and  disappeared  under  the  calm  blue  water.  I  had 
received  a  splinter  in  my  left  arm,  and  held  on  longer 


364  Jacob  Faithful 

than  the  others  who  had  been  maimed ;  but  I  could  not 
hold  on  till  the  cutter  came  ;  I  lost  my  recollection,  and 
sank.  Tom,  who  was  in  the  bow  of  the  cutter,  perceiving 
me  go  down,  dived  after  me,  brought  me  up  again  to  the 
surface,  and  we  were  both  hauled  in.  The  other  five  men 
were  also  saved.  As  soon  as  we  were  picked  up,  the 
cutter  followed  the  other  boats,  which  continued  to  advance 
towards  the  privateer.  I  recovered  my  senses,  and  found 
that  a  piece  of  one  of  the  thwarts  of  the  boat,  broken  off 
by  the  shot,  had  been  forced  through  the  fleshy  part  of  my 
arm  below  the  elbow,  where  it  still  remained.  It  was  a 
very  dangerous  as  well  as  a  painful  wound.  The  officer  of 
the  boat,  without  asking  me,  laid  hold  of  the  splinter  and 
tore  it  out ;  but  the  pain  was  so  great,  from  its  jagged 
form,  and  the  effusion  of  blood  so  excessive  after  this 
operation,  that  I  again  fainted.  Fortunately  no  artery  was 
wounded,  or  I  must  have  lost  my  arm.  They  bound  it  up, 
and  laid  me  at  the  bottom  of  the  boat.  The  firing  from 
the  schooner  was  now  very  warm ;  and  we  were  within  a 
quarter  of  a  mile  of  her,  when  the  breeze  sprang  up,  and 
she  increased  her  distance  a  mile.  There  was  a  prospect 
of  wind  from  the  appearance  of  the  sky,  although,  for  a 
time,  it  again  died  away.  We  were  within  less  than  half  a 
mile  of  the  privateer,  when  we  perceived  that  the  frigate 
was  bringing  up  a  smart  breeze,  and  rapidly  approached 
the  scene  of  conflict. 

The  breeze  swept  along  the  water  and  caught  the  sails 
of  the  privateer,  and  she  was  again,  in  spite  of  all  the  exer- 
tions of  our  wearied  men,  out  of  gun-shot ;  and  the  first 
lieutenant  very  properly  decided  upon  making  for  the 
frigate,  which  was  now  within  a  mile  of  us.  In  less  than 
ten  minutes  the  boats  were  hoisted  in ;  and  the  wind  now 
rising  fast,  we  were  under  all  sail,  going  at  the  rate  of  seven 
miles  an  hour  ;  the  privateer  having  also  gained  the  breeze 
and  gallantly  holding  her  own. 

I  was  taken  down  into  the  cockpit,  the  only  wounded 
man  brought  on  board.  The  surgeon  examined  my  arm, 
and   at   first    shook   his   head,  and  I  expected  immediate 


Jacob  Faithful  ^65 

amputation  ;  but  on  re-examination  he  gave  his  opinion  that 
the  limb  might  be  saved.  My  wound  was  dressed,  and  I 
was  put  into  my  hammock,  in  a  screened  bulk  under  the 
half-deck,  where  the  cooling  breeze  from  the  ports  fanned 
my  feverish  cheeks.     But  I  must  return  to  the  chase. 

In  less  than  an  hour  the  wind  had  increased,  so  that  we 
could  with  difficulty  carry  our  royals ;  the  privateer  was 
holding  her  own  about  three  miles  right  a-head,  keeping 
our  three  masts  in  one.  At  sunset  they  were  forced  to 
take  in  the  royals,  and  the  sky  gave  every  prospect  of  a 
rough  gale.  Still  we  carried  on  every  stitch  of  canvas 
which  the  frigate  could  bear  j  keeping  the  chase  in  sight 
with  our  night-glasses,  and  watching  all  her  motions. 

The  breeze  increased  ;  before  morning  there  was  a  heavy 
sea,  and  the  frigate  could  only  carry  top-gallant  sails  over 
double-reefed  topsails.  At  daylight  we  had  neared  the 
schooner,  by  the  sextants,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  and 
the  captain  and  officers  went  down  to  take  some  repose  and 
refreshment,  not  having  quitted  the  deck  for  twenty-four 
hours.  All  that  day  did  we  chase  the  privateer,  without 
gaining  more  than  a  mile  upon  her,  and  it  now  blew  up  a 
furious  gale :  the  top-gallant  sails  had  been  before  taken 
in ;  the  topsails  were  close  reefed,  and  we  were  running  at 
the  speed  of  nearly  twelve  miles  an  hour  ;  still  so  well  did 
the  privateer  sail,  that  she  was  barely  within  gun-shot  when 
the  sun  went  down  below  the  horizon,  angry  and  fiery  red. 
There  was  now  great  fear  that  she  would  escape,  from  the 
difficulty  of  keeping  the  glasses  upon  her  during  the  night, 
in  a  heavy  sea,  and  the  expectation  that  she  would  furl  all 
and  allow  us  to  pass  her.  It  appeared,  however,  that  this 
manoeuvre  did  not  enter  into  the  head  of  the  captain  of  the 
privateer ;  he  stood  on  under  a  press  of  sail,  which  even  in 
day-time  would  have  been  considered  alarming ;  and  at  day- 
light, owing  to  the  steerage  during  the  night  never  being 
so  correct  as  during  the  day,  she  had  recovered  her  distance, 
and  was  about  four  miles  from  us.  The  gale,  if  anything, 
had  increased,  and  Captain  Maclean  determined,  notwith- 
standing, to  shake  a  reef  out  of  the  topsails. 


^66  Jacob  Faithful 

In  the  morning,  as  usual,  Tom  came  to  my  cot,  and 
asked  me  how  I  was  ?  I  told  him  I  was  better  and  in  less 
pain,  and  that  the  surgeon  had  promised  to  dress  my  wound 
after  breakfast,  for  the  bandages  had  not  been  removed 
since  I  had  first  come  on  board.  "  And  the  privateer, 
Tom,  I  hope  we  shall  take  her ;  it  will  be  some  comfort  to 
me  that  she  is  captured." 

"  I  think  we  shall,  if  the  masts  stand,  Jacob ;  but  we 
have  an  enormous  press  of  sail,  as  you  may  guess,  by  the 
way  in  which  the  frigate  jumps ;  there  is  no  standing  on 
the  forecastle,  and  there  is  a  regular  waterfall  down  in  the 
waist  from  forward.  We  are  nearing  her  now.  It  is 
beautiful  to  see  how  she  behaves  :  when  she  heels  over, 
we  can  perceive  that  all  her  men  are  lashed  on  deck,  and 
she  takes  whole  seas  into  her  fore  and  aft  mainsail,  and 
pours  them  out  again  as  she  rises  from  the  lurch.  She 
deserves  to  escape,  at  all  events." 

She  did  not,  however,  obtain  her  deserts,  for  about 
twelve  o'clock  in  the  day  we  were  within  a  mile  of  her. 
At  two,  the  marines  were  firing  small  arms  at  her,  for  we 
would  not  yaw  to  fire  at  her  a  gun,  although  she  was 
right  under  our  bows.  When  within  a  cable's  length  we 
shortened  sail,  so  as  to  keep  at  that  distance  astern,  and 
the  chase,  after  having  lost  several  men  by  musketry,  the 
captain  of  her  waved  his  hat  in  token  of  surrender.  We 
immediately  shortened  sail  to  keep  the  weather  gage,  pelt- 
ing her  until  every  sail  was  lowered  down :  we  then 
rounded  to,  keeping  her  under  our  lee,  and  firing  at  every 
man  who  made  his  appearance  on  deck.  Taking  possession 
of  her  was  a  difficult  task  :  a  boat  could  hardly  live  in  such 
a  sea ;  and  when  the  captain  called  aloud  for  volunteers, 
and  I  heard  Tom's  voice  in  the  cutter  as  it  was  lowering 
down,  my  heart  misgave  me  lest  he  should  meet  with 
some  accident.  At  last  I  knew,  from  the  conversation  on 
deck,  that  the  cutter  had  got  safe  on  board,  and  my  mind 
was  relieved.  The  surgeon  came  up  and  dressed  my  arm, 
and  I  then  received  comparative  bodily  as  well  as  mental 
relief. 


Jacob  Faithful  367 

It  was  not  until  the  next  day,  when  we  lay  to,  with 
the  schooner  close  to  us,  that  the  weather  became 
sufficiently  moderate  to  enable  us  to  receive  the  prisoners 
and  put  our  own  men  and  officers  on  board.  The  prize 
proved  to  be  an  American  built  schooner,  fitted  out  as 
a  French  privateer.  She  was  called  the  Cerf  Agile, 
mounting  fourteen  guns,  of  nearly  three  hundred  tons 
measurement,  and  with  a  crew  of  one  hundred  and  seventy 
men,  of  which  forty-eight  were  away  in  prizes.  It  was, 
perhaps,  fortunate  that  the  boats  were  not  able  to  attack 
her,  as  they  would  have  received  a  very  warm  reception. 
Thus  did  we  succeed  in  capturing  this  mischievous  vessel, 
after  a  chase  of  two  hundred  and  seventy  miles.  As  soon 
as  all  the  arrangements  were  made,  we  shaped  our  course, 
with  the  privateer  in  company,  for  Halifax,  where  we 
arrived  in  about  five  weeks.  My  wound  was  now  nearly 
healed  j  but  my  arm  had  wasted  away,  and  I  was  unable 
to  return  to  my  duty.  It  was  well  known  that  I  wrote 
a  good  hand,  and  I  volunteered,  as  I  could  do  nothing 
else,  to  assist  the  purser  and  the  clerk  with  the  ship's 
books,  &c. 

The  admiral  was  at  Bermuda,  and  the  frigate  which 
we  were  to  relieve  had,  from  the  exigence  of  the  service, 
been  despatched  down  to  the  Honduras,  and  was  not 
expected  back  for  some  months.  We  sailed  from  Halifax 
to  Bermuda,  and  joined  the  admiral,  and  after  three  weeks, 
we  were  ordered  on  a  cruise.  My  arm  was  now  perfectly 
recovered,  but  I  had  become  so  useful  in  the  clerk's  office 
that  I  was  retained,  much  against  my  own  wishes  :  but 
the  captain  Med  it,  as  Tom  said,  and  after  that,  there 
was  no  more  said  about  the  matter. 

America  was  not  the  seat  of  war  at  that  period,  and, 
with  the  exception  of  chasing  French  runners,  there  was 
nothing  to  be  done  on  the  North  American  station.  I 
have,  therefore,  little  to  narrate  during  the  remainder  of 
the  time  that  I  was  on  board  the  frigate.  Tom  did  his 
duty  in  the  foretop,  and  never  was  in  any  disgrace ;  on 
the  contrary,  he  was  a  great  favourite  both  with  officers 


368  Jacob  Faithful 

and  men,  and  took  more  liberties  with  the  captain  than 
any  one  else  dared  to  have  done  •,  but  Captain  Maclean 
knew  that  Tom  was  one  of  his  foremost  and  best  men, 
always  active,  zealous,  and  indifferent  as  to  danger,  and 
Tom  knew  exactly  how  far  he  could  venture  to  play  with 
him.  I  remained  in  the  clerk's  office,  and  as  it  was  soon 
discovered  that  I  had  received  an  excellent  education,  and 
always  behaved  myself  respectfully  to  my  superiors,  I 
was  kindly  treated,  and  had  no  reason  to  complain  of  a 
man-of-war. 

Such  was  the  state  of  affairs,  when  the  other  frigate 
arrived  from  the  Honduras,  and  we,  who  had  been  cruising 
for  the  last  four  months  in  Boston  Bay,  were  ordered  in 
by  a  cutter,  to  join  the  admiral  at  Halifax.  We  had 
now  been  nearly  a  year  from  England  without  receiving 
any  letters.  The  reader  may,  therefore,  judge  of  my 
impatience  when,  after  the  anchor  had  been  let  go  and 
the  sails  furled,  the  admiral's  boat  came  on  board  with 
several  bags  of  letters  for  the  officers  and  ship's  company. 
They  were  handed  down  into  the  gun-room,  and  I  waited 
with  impatience  for  the  sorting  and  distribution. 

*'  Faithful,"  said  the  purser,  "  here  are  two  letters  for 
you." 

I  thanked  him,  and  hastened  into  the  clerk's  office  that 
I  might  read  them  without  interruption.  The  first  was 
addressed  in  a  formal  hand  quite  unknown  to  me.  I 
opened  it  with  some  degree  of  wonderment,  as  to  who 
could  possibly  write  to  so  humble  an  individual.  It  was 
from  a  lawyer,  and  its  contents  were  as  follows  : — 

**  Sir, — We  hasten  to  advise  you  of  the  death  of  your 
good  friend  Mr  Alexander  Turnbull.  By  his  will,  which 
has  been  opened  and  read,  and  of  which  you  are  the 
executor,  he  has  made  you  his  sole  heir,  bequeathing 
you,  at  the  present,  the  sum  of  ^^30,000,  with  the  re- 
mainder of  his  fortune  at  the  demise  of  his  wife.  With 
the  exception  of  ^5000  left  to  Mrs  Turnbull  for  her 
own  disposal,   the  legacies  do   not  amount  to  more  than 


Jacob  Faithful  369 

^800.  The  jointure,  arising  from  the  Interest  of  the 
money  secured  to  Mrs  TurnbuU  during  her  life,  is  ^1080 
per  annum,  upon  the  3  per  cent,  consols,  so  that  at  her 
demise  you  will  come  Into  ^36,000  consols,  which  at  76,  will 
be  equal  to  ^27,360  sterling.  I  beg  to  congratulate  you 
upon  your  good  fortune,  and,  with  Mr  Drummond,  have 
made  application  to  the  Admiralty  for  your  discharge. 
This  application,  I  am  happy  to  say,  has  been  immediately 
attended  to,  and  by  the  same  mail  that  conveys  this  letter 
is  forwarded  an  order  for  your  discharge  and  a  passage 
home.  Should  you  think  proper  to  treat  our  firm  as  your 
legal  advisers,  we  shall  be  most  happy  to  enrol  you  among 
our  clients. 

*'I  am,  Sir, 
"  Yours  very  respectfully, 

"John  Fletcher.'" 

I  must  leave  the  reader  to  judge  of  this  unexpected 
and  welcome  communication.  At  first  I  was  so  stunned 
that  I  appeared  as  a  statue  with  the  letter  in  my  hand, 
and  in  this  condition  I  remained  until  roused  by  the  first 
lieutenant,  who  had  come  to  the  office  to  desire  me  to 
pass  the  word  for  "  letters  for  England,"  and  to  desire 
the  sail-maker  to  make  a  bag. 

"  Faithful — why   what's    the    matter  ?      Are    you    ill, 

or ? "     I  could  not  reply,  but  I  put  the  letter  into  his 

hand.  He  read  the  contents,  expressing  his  astonishment 
by  occasional  exclamations.  "  I  wish  you  joy,  my  lad, 
and  may  it  be  my  turn  next  time.  No  wonder  you  looked 
like  a  stuck  pig.  Had  I  received  such  news,  the  captain 
might  have  hallooed  till  he  was  hoarse,  and  the  ship  might 
have  tumbled  overboard,  before  I  should  have  roused 
myself.  Well,  I  suppose  we  shall  get  no  more  work  out 
of  you " 

"  The  captain  wants  you,  Mr  Knight,"  said  one  of  the 
midshipmen,  touching  his  hat. 

Mr  Knight  went  into  the  cabin,  and  in  a  few  minutes 
returned,  holding  the  order  for  my  discharge  in  his  hand. 

J.F.  2  A 


370  Jacob  Faithful 

"  It's  all  right,  Faithful,  here  is  your  discharge,  and 
an  order  for  your  passage  home." 

He  laid  it  on  the  table  and  then  went  away,  for  a  first 
lieutenant  in  harbour  has  no  time  to  lose.  The  next 
person  who  came  was  Tom,  holding  in  his  hand  a  letter 
from  Mary,  with  a  postscript  from  his  mother. 

"Well,  Jacob,"  said  he,  **I  have  news  to  tell  you. 
Mary  says  that  Mr  Turnbull  is  dead,  and  has  left  her 
father  ;^2oo,  and  that  she  has  been  told  that  he  has  left 
you  something  handsome." 

"  He  has  indeed,  Tom,"  replied  I ;  **  read  this  letter  " 
While  Tom  was  reading,  I  perceived  the  letter  from 
Mr  Drummond,  which  I  had  forgotten.  I  opened  it.  It 
communicated  the  same  intelligence  as  that  of  the  lawyer, 
in  fewer  words ;  recommended  my  immediate  return,  and 
enclosed  a  bill  upon  his  house  for  ;^ioo  to  enable  me  to 
appear  in  a  manner  corresponding  to  my  present  condition. 
"Well,"  said  Tom,  "  this  is,  indeed,  good  news,  Jacob. 
You  are  a  gentleman,  at  last,  as  you  deserve  to  be.  It 
has  made  me  so  happy ;  what  do  you  mean  to  do  ? " 

*'I  have  my  discharge  here,"  replied  I,  "and  am 
ordered  a  passage  home." 

"  Better  still.  I  am  so  happy,  Jacob ;  so  happy.  But 
what  is  to  become  of  me  ? "  And  Tom  passed  the  back 
of  his  hand  across  his  eyes  to  brush  away  a  tear. 

**  You  shall  soon  follow  me,  Tom,  if  I  can  manage  it 
either  by  money  or  any  influence." 

"  I  will  manage  it,  if  you  don't,  Jacob.  I  won't  stay 
here  without  you,  that  I  am  determined." 

"Do  nothing  rashly,  Tom.  I  am  sure  I  can  buy  your 
discharge,  and  on  my  arrival  in  England  I  will  not  think 
of  anything  else  until  it  is  done." 

"  You  must  be  quick,  then,  Jacob,  for  I'm  sure  I  can't 
stay  here  long." 

"Trust  to  me,  Tom;  you'll  still  find  me  Jacob 
Faithful,"  said  I,  extending  my  hand.  Tom  squeezed 
it  earnestly,  and  with  moistened  eyes,  turned  away,  and 
walked  forward. 


Jacob  Faithful  371 

The  news  had  spread  through  the  ship,  and  many  of 
the  officers,  as  well  as  the  men,  came  to  congratulate  me. 
What  would  I  have  given  to  have  been  allowed  only  one 
half-hour  to  myself — one  half-hour  in  which  I  might  be 
permitted  to  compose  my  excited  feelings — to  have  re- 
turned thanks  for  such  unexpected  happiness,  and  paid 
a  tribute  to  the  memory  of  so  sincere  a  friend.  But  in 
a  ship  this  is  almost  impossible,  unless,  as  an  officer, 
you  can  retreat  to  your  own  cabin ;  and  those  gushings 
from  the  heart,  arising  from  grief,  or  pleasure,  the  tears 
so  sweet  in  solitude,  must  be  prostituted  before  the 
crowd,  or  altogether  repressed.  At  last  the  wished-for 
opportunity  did  come.  Mr  "Wilson,  who  had  been  away 
on  service,  came  to  congratulate  me  as  soon  as  he  heard 
the  news,  and  with  an  instinctive  perception  of  what 
might  be  my  feelings,  asked  me  whether  I  would  not 
like  to  write  my  letters  in  his  cabin,  which,  for  a  few 
hours,  was  at  my  service.  I  thankfully  accepted  the 
offer ;  and,  when  summoned  by  the  captain,  had  relieved 
my  overcharged  heart,  and  had  composed  my  excited 
feelings. 

**  Jacob  Faithful,  you  are  aware  there  is  an  order  for 
your  discharge,"  said  he,  kindly.  "  You  will  be  dis- 
charged this  afternoon  into  the  Astrea;  she  is  ordered 
home,  and  will  sail  with  despatches  in  a  few  days.  You 
have  conducted  yourself  well  since  you  have  been  under 
my  command ;  and,  although  you  are  now  in  a  situation 
not  to  require  a  good  certificate,  still  you  will  have  the 
satisfaction  of  feeling  that  you  have  done  your  duty  in 
the  station  of  life  to  which  you  have,  for  a  certain  portion 
of  it,  been  called — I  wish  you  well." 

Although  Captain  Maclean,  in  what  he  said,  never  lost 
sight  of  the  relative  situations  in  which  we  had  been 
placed,  there  was  a  kindness  of  manner,  especially  in  the 
last  words,  "  I  wish  you  well,"  which  went  to  my  heart. 
I  replied  that  I  had  been  very  happy  during  the  time  I 
had  been  under  his  command,  and  thanked  him  for  his 
good  wishes.     I  then  bowed  and  left  the  cabin.     But  the 


'^'ji  Jacob  Faithful 

captain  did  not  send  me  on  board  the  Astrea^  although 
I  was  discharged  into  her.  Ke  told  the  first  lieutenant 
that  I  had  better  go  on  shore,  and  equip  myself  in  a 
proper  manner ;  and,  as  I  afterwards  found  out,  spoke 
of  me  in  very  favourable  terms  to  the  captain  of  the 
Astrea,  acknowledging  that  I  had  received  the  education 
of  a  gentleman,  and  had  been  illegally  impressed ;  so 
that,  when  I  made  my  appearance  on  board  the  Astrea, 
the  officers  of  the  gun-room  requested  that  I  would  mess 
with  them  during  the  passage  home. 

I  went  on  shore,  obtained  the  money  for  my  bill, 
hastened  to  a  tailor,  and  with  his  exertions,  and  other 
fitting-out  people,  procured  all  that  was  requisite  for  the 
outward  appearance  of  a  gentleman.  I  then  returned  to 
the  Immortalite,  and  bade  farewell  to  the  officers  and  sea- 
men with  whom  I  had  been  most  intimate.  My  parting 
with  Tom  was  painful.  Even  the  few  days  which  I  had 
been  away,  I  perceived,  had  made  an  alteration  in  his 
appearance. 

"Jacob,"  said  he,  "don't  think  I  envy  you;  on  the 
contrary,  I  am  as  grateful,  even  more  grateful  than  if 
such  good  fortune  had  fallen  to  my  own  lot ;  but  I 
cannot  help  fretting  at  the  thought  of  being  left  here 
without  you :  and  I  shall  fret  until  I  am  with  you  again." 

I  renewed  my  promises  to  procure  his  discharge,  and 
forcing  upon  him  all  the  money  I  thought  that  I  could 
spare,  I  went  over  the  side  as  much  affected  as  poor 
Tom.  Our  passage  home  was  rapid.  We  had  a  con- 
tinuance of  N.W.  winds,  and  we  flew  before  them,  and, 
in  less  than  three  weeks,  we  dropped  our  anchor  at 
Spithead.  Happy  in  the  change  of  my  situation,  and 
happier  still  in  anticipation,  I  shall  only  say  that  I  never 
was  in  better  spirits,  or  in  company  with  more  agreeable 
young  men  then  were  the  officers  of  the  Astrea;  and 
although  we  were  so  short  a  time  together,  we  separated 
with  mutual  regret. 


Jacob  Faithful  t^j^ 


Chapter   XL 

I  interrupt  a  matrimonial  duet  and  capsize  the  boat — Being  on  dry  land, 
no  one  is  drowned — Tom  leaves  a  man-of-war  because  he  don't  like  it — 
I  find  the  profession  of  a  gentleman  preferable  to  that  of  a  waterman. 

My  first  object,  on  my  return,  was  to  call  upon  old  Tom, 
and  assure  him  of  his  son's  welfare.  My  wishes  certainly 
would  have  led  me  to  Mr  Drummond's,  but  I  felt  that 
my  duty  required  that  I  should  delay  that  pleasure.  I 
arrived  at  the  hotel  late  in  the  evening,  and  early  next 
morning  I  went  down  to  the  steps  at  Westminster  Bridge, 
and  was  saluted  with  the  usual  cry  of  "  Boat,  sir  ? "  A 
crowd  of  recollections  poured  into  my  mind  at  the  well- 
known  sound ;  my  life  appeared  to  have  passed  in  review 
in  a  few  seconds,  as  I  took  my  seat  in  the  stern  of  a 
wherry,  and  directed  the  waterman  to  pull  up  the  river. 
It  was  a  beautiful  morning,  and  even  at  that  early  hour 
almost  too  warm — the  sun  was  so  powerful.  I  watched 
every  object  that  we  passed  with  an  interest  I  cannot 
describe  j  every  tree,  every  building,  every  point  of 
land — they  were  all  old  friends,  who  appeared,  as  the 
sun  shone  brightly  on  them,  to  rejoice  in  my  good 
fortune.  I  remained  in  a  reverie  too  delightful  to  be 
wished  to  be  disturbed  from  it,  although  occasionally 
there  were  reminiscences  which  were  painful  •,  but  they 
were  but  as  light  clouds,  obscuring  for  a  moment,  as 
they  flew  past,  the  glorious  sun  of  my  happiness.  At 
last  the  well-known  tenement  of  old  Tom,  his  large 
board  with  *'  Boats  built  to  order,"  and  the  half  of  the 
boat  stuck  up  on  end,  caught  my  sight,  and  I  remembered 
the  object  of  my  embarkation.  I  directed  the  waterman 
to  pull  to  the  hard,  and,  paying  him  well,  dismissed  him  ; 
for  I  had  perceived  that  old  Tom  was  at  work  stumping 
round  a  wherry,  bottom  up ;  and  his  wife  was  sitting  on 
a  bench  in    the  boat-arbour,   basking  in  the  warm  sun. 


374  Jacob  Faithful 

and  working  away  at  her  nets.  I  had  landed  so  quietly, 
and  they  both  were  so  occupied  with  their  respective 
employments,  that  they  had  not  perceived  me,  and  I 
crept  round  by  the  house  to  surprise  them.  I  had  gained 
a  station  behind  the  old  boat,  where  I  overheard  the 
conversation. 

"  It's  my  opinion,"  said  old  Tom,  who  left  off  hammering 
for  a  time,  "  that  all  the  nails  in  Birmingham  won't  make 
this  boat  water-tight.  The  timbers  are  as  rotten  as  a  pear, 
and  the  nails  fall  through  them.  I  have  put  in  one  piece 
more  than  agreed  for  ;  and  if  I  don't  put  in  another  here, 
she'll  never  swim." 

"Well,  then,  put  another  piece  in,"  replied  Mrs 
Beazeley. 

"  Yes ;  so  I  will ;  but  I've  a  notion  I  shall  be  out  of 
pocket  by  this  job.  Seven  and  sixpence  won't  pay  for 
labour  and  all.  However,  never  mind,"  and  Tom  carolled 
forth — 

"  Is  not  the  sea 

Made  for  the  free — 
Land  for  courts  and  chains  alone  ? 

There  we  are  slaves, 

But  on  the  waves 
Love  and  liberty's  all  our  own." 

*'  Now,  if  you  do  sing,  sing  truth,  Beazeley,"  said  the 
old  woman.  "  A'n't  our  boy  pressed  into  the  service  ? 
And  how  can  you  talk  of  liberty  ? " 

Old  Tom  answered  by  continuing  his  song — 

"  No  eye  to  watch,  and  no  tongue  to  wound  us  ; 
All  earth  forgot,  and  all  heaven  around  us." 

**  Yes,  yes,"  replied  the  old  woman ;  *'  no  eye  to  watch, 
indeed.  He  may  be  in  sickness  and  in  sorrow ;  he  may  be 
wounded,  or  dying  of  a  fever ;  and  there's  no  mother's  eye 
to  watch  over  him.  As  to  all  on  earth  being  forgot,  I 
won't  believe  that  Tom  has  forgotten  his  mother." 

Old  Tom  replied — 

"  Seasons  may  roll, 
But  the  true  soul 
Burns  the  same  wherever  it  goes." 


Jacob  Faithful  375 

**  So  it  does,  Tom — so  it  does  ;  and  he's  thinking  this 
moment  of  his  father  and  mother,  I  do  verily  believe,  and 
he  loves  us  more  than  ever." 

"  So  I  believe,"  replied  old  Tom — "  that  is,  if  he  hasn't 
anything  better  to  do.  But  there's  a  time  for  all  things  ; 
and  when  a  man  is  doing  his  duty  as  a  seaman,  he  mustn't 
let  his  thoughts  wander.  Never  fear,  old  woman  j  he'll 
be  back  again. 

'•There's  a  sweet  little  cherub  that  sits  up  aloft, 
To  take  care  of  the  life  of  poor  Jack." 

"  God  grant  it !  God  grant  it !  "  replied  the  old  woman, 
wiping  her  eyes  with  her  apron,  and  then  resuming  her 
netting. 

"  He  seems,"  continued  she,  *'  by  his  letters  to  be  over- 
fond  of  that  girl,  Mary  Stapleton, — and  I  sometimes  think 
that  she  cares  not  a  little  for  him  ;  but  she's  never  of  one 
mind  long.  I  didn't  hke  to  see  her  flaunting  and  flirting 
so  with  the  soldiers,  and  at  the  same  time  Tom  says  that 
she  writes  that  she  cares  for  nobody  but  him." 

"  Women  are — women  !  that's  sartain,"  replied  old  Tom, 
musing  for  a  time,  and  then  showing  that  his  thoughts 
were  running  on  his  son,  by  bursting  out — 

«  Mary,  when  yonder  boundless  sea 

Shall  part  us,  and  perchance  for  ever, 
Think  not  my  heart  can  stray  from  thee. 

Or  cease  to  mourn  thine  absence — never ! 
And  when  in  distant  climes  I  roam, 

Forlorn,  unfriended,  broken-hearted " 

"  Don't  say  so,  Tom — don't  say  so,"  interrupted  the  old 
woman. 

Tom  continued — 

"  Oft  shall  I  sigh  for  thee  and  home, 
And  all  those  joys  for  which  I  parted." 

"  Ay,  so  he  does,  poor  fellow,  I'll  be  bound  to  say. 
What  would  I  give  to  see  his  dear  smiling  face  !  "  said 
Mrs  Beazeiey. 

*'  And  I'd  give  no  little,  missus,  myself.     But  still,  it's 


'T^'jG  Jacob  Faithful 

the  duty  for  every  man  to  serve  his  country ;  and  so  ought 
Tom,  as  his  father  did  before  him.  I  shall  be  glad  to  see 
him  back ;  but  I'm  not  sorry  that  he's  gone.  Our  ships 
must  be  manned,  old  woman ;  and  if  they  take  men  by 
force,  it's  only  because  they  won't  volunteer — that's  all. 
When  they're  once  on  board  they  don't  mind  it.  You 
women  require  pressing  just  as  much  as  the  men,  and  it's 
all  much  of  a  muchness." 

"How's  that,  Tom.?" 

''Why,  when  we  make  love,  and  ask  you  to  marry, 
don't  you  always  pout,  and  say,  *  No '  ?  You  like  being 
kissed,  but  we  must  take  it  by  force.  So  it  is  with 
manning  a  ship.  The  men  all  say,  '  No  •, '  but  when  they 
are  once  there,  they  like  the  service  very  much — only, 
you  see,  like  you,  they  want  pressing.  Don't  Tom  write 
and  say  that  he's  quite  happy,  and  don't  care  where  he  is 
so  long  as  he's  with  Jacob  ? " 

"  Yes  J  that's  true  j  but  they  say  Jacob  is  to  be  dis- 
charged and  come  home,  now  that  he's  come  to  a  fortune  •, 
and  what  will  Tom  say  then  ? " 

"  Why,  that  is  the  worst  of  it.  I  believe  that  Jacob's 
heart  is  in  the  right  place ;  but  still,  riches  spoil  a  man. 
But  we  shall  see.  If  Jacob  don't  prove  '  true  blue,'  I'll 
never  put  faith  in  man  again.  But  there  be  changes  in 
this  world,  that's  sartin. 

"  We  all  have  our  taste  of  the  ups  and  the  downs, 
^  As  Fortune  dispenses  her  smiles  and  her  frowns; 

But  may  we  not  hope,  if  she's  frowning  to-day, 
That  to-morrow  she'll  lend  us  the  light  of  her  ray. 

"  I  only  wish  Jacob  was  here — that's  all." 

"  Then  you  have  your  wish,  my  good  old  friend,"  cried 
I,  running  up  to  Tom,  and  seizing  his  hand.  But  old 
Tom  was  so  taken  by  surprise  that  he  started  back  and 
lost  his  equilibrium,  dragging  me  after  him,  and  we  rolled 
on  the  turf  together.  Nor  was  this  the  only  accident, 
for  old  Mrs  Beazeley  was  so  alarmed  that  she  also  sprang 
from  the  bench  fixed  in  the  half  of  the  old  boat  stuck  on 
end,  and  threw  herself  back  against  it.     The  boat,  rotten 


Jacob  Faithful  377 

when  first  put  up,  and  with  the  disadvantage  of  exposure 
to  the  elements  for  many  years,  could  no  longer  stand 
such  pressure.  It  gave  way  to  the  sudden  force  applied 
by  the  old  woman,  and  she  and  the  boat  went  down 
together,  she  screaming  and  scuffling  among  the  rotten 
planks,  which  now,  after  so  many  years'  close  intimacy, 
were  induced  to  part  company.  I  was  first  on  my  legs, 
and  ran  to  the  assistance  of  Mrs  Beazeley,  who  was  half 
smothered  with  dust  and  flakes  of  dry  pitch  ;  and  old  Tom 
coming  to  my  assistance,  we  put  the  old  woman  on  her 
legs  again. 

"  O  deary  me  !  "  cried  the  old  woman — "  O  deary  me  ! 
I  do  believe  my  hip  is  out !  Lord,  Mr  Jacob,  how  you 
frightened  me !  " 

"  Yes,"  said  old  Tom,  shaking  me  warmly  by  the  hand, 
**  we  were  all  taken  aback,  old  boat  and  all.  What  a 
shindy  you  have  made,  bowling  us  all  down  like  ninepins ! 
Well,  my  boy,  I'm  glad  to  see  you,  and  notwithstanding 
your  gear,  you're  Jacob  Faithful  still." 

"I  hope  so,"  replied  I;  and  we  then  adjourned  to  the 
house,  where  I  made  them  acquainted  with  all  that  had 
passed,  and  what  I  intended  to  do  relative  to  obtaining 
Tom's  discharge.  I  then  left  them,  promising  to  return 
soon,  and,  hailing  a  wherry  going  up  the  river,  proceeded 
to  my  old  friend  Domine,  of  whose  welfare,  as  well  as 
Stapleton's  and  Mary's,  I  had  been  already  assured. 

But  as  I  passed  through  Putney  Bridge,  I  thought  I 
might  as  well  call  first  upon  old  Stapleton ;  and  I  desired 
the  water-man  to  pull  in.  I  hastened  to  Stapleton's 
lodgings,  and  went  upstairs,  where  I  found  Mary  in 
earnest  conversation  with  a  very  good-looking  young  man, 
in  a  sergeant's  uniform  of  the  93rd  Regiment.  Mary, 
who  was  even  handsomer  than  when  I  had  left  her, 
starting  up,  at  first  did  not  appear  to  recognise  me,  then 
coloured  up  to  the  forehead,  as  she  welcomed  me  with  a 
constraint  I  had  never  witnessed  before.  The  sergeant 
appeared  inclined  to  keep  his  ground  ;  but  on  my  taking 
her  hand  and  telling  her  that  I  brought  a  message  from  a 


;^yS  Jacob  Faithful 

person  whom  I  trusted  she  had  not  forgotten,  he  gave  her 
a  nod  and  walked  down  stairs.  Perhaps  there  was  a 
severity  in  my  countenance  as  I  said,  "  Mary,  I  do  not 
know  whether,  after  what  I  have  seen,  I  ought  to  give  the 
message ;  and  the  pleasure  I  anticipated  in  meeting  you 
again  is  destroyed  by  what  I  have  now  witnessed.  How 
disgraceful  is  it  thus  to  play  with  a  man's  feelings — to 
write  to  him,  assuring  him  of  your  regard  and  constancy, 
and  at  the  same  time  encouraging  another." 

Mary  hung  down  her  head.  "  If  I  have  done  wrong, 
Mr  Faithful,"  said  she,  after  a  pause,  "  I  have  not  wronged 
Tom ;  what  I  have  written,  I  felt." 

"  If  that  is  the  case,  why  do  you  wrong  another  person  ? 
why  encourage  another  young  man  only  to  make  him 
unhappy  ? " 

*'  I  have  promised  him  nothing  j  but  why  does  not  Tom 
come  back  and  look  after  me  ?  I  can't  mope  here  by 
myself;  I  have  no  one  to  keep  company  with  ;  my  father 
is  always  away  at  the  alehouse,  and  I  must  have  somebody 
to  talk  to.  Besides,  Tom  is  away,  and  may  be  away  a 
long  while,  and  absence  cures  love  in  men,  although  it 
does  not  in  women." 

"  It  appears  then,  Mary,  that  you  wish  to  have  two 
strings  to  your  bow  in  case  of  accident." 

"  Should  the  first  string  break,  a  second  would  be  very 
acceptable,"  replied  Mary.  "  But  it  is  always  this  way," 
continued  she,  with  increasing  warmth ;  "I  never  can  be  in 
a  situation  which  is  not  right,  whenever  I  do  anything 
which  may  appear  improper,  so  certain  do  you  make  your 
appearance  when  least  expected  and  least  wished  for — as 
if  you  were  born  to  be  my  constant  accuser." 

"  Does  not  your  own  conscience  accuse  you,  Mary  ? " 

*'  Mr  Faithful,"  repeated  she,  very  warmly,  "  you  are 
not  my  father  confessor ;  but  do  as  you  please — write  to 
Tom  if  you  please,  and  tell  him  all  you  have  seen,  and 
anything  you  may  think — make  him  and  make  me  miserable 
and  unhappy — do  it,  I  pray.  It  will  be  a  friendly  act ; 
and  as  you  are  now  a  great  man,  you  may  persuade  Tom 
that  I  am  a  jilt  and  a  good-for-nothing." 


Jacob  Faithful  379 

Here  Mary  laid  her  hands  on  the  table,  and  buried  her 
face  in  them. 

"  I  did  not  come  here  to  be  your  censor,  Mary  ;  you 
are  certainly  at  liberty  to  act  as  you  please,  without  my 
having  any  right  to  interfere  :  but  as  Tom  is  my  earliest 
and  best  friend,  so  far  as  his  interests  and  happiness  are 
concerned,  I  shall  carefully  watch  over  them.  We  have 
been  so  long  together,  and  I  am  so  well  acquainted  with 
all  his  feelings,  that  I  really  believe  that  if  ever  there  was 
a  young  man  sincerely  and  devotedly  attached  to  a  woman, 
he  is  so  to  you ;  and  I  will  add  that  if  ever  there  was  a 
young  man  who  deserved  love  in  return,  it  is  Tom.  When 
I  left,  not  a  month  back,  he  desired  me  to  call  upon  you 
as  soon  as  I  could,  and  assure  you  of  his  unalterable 
attachment ;  and  I  am  now  about  to  procure  his  discharge, 
that  he  may  be  able  to  return.  All  his  thoughts  are  upon 
this  point,  and  he  is  now  waiting  with  the  utmost  im- 
patience the  arrival  of  it,  that  he  may  again  be  in  your 
company ;  you  can  best  judge  whether  his  return  will  or 
will  not  be  a  source  of  happiness." 

Mary  raised  her  head — her  face  was  wet  with  her  tears. 

*'  Then,  he  will  soon  be  back  again,  and  I  shall  see  him. 
Indeed,  his  return  shall  be  no  source  of  unhappiness,  if  I 
can  make  him  happy — indeed,  it  shall  not,  Mr  Faithful ; 
but  pray  don't  tell  him  of  my  foolish  conduct,  pray  don't 
— why  make  him  unhappy  ? — I  entreat  you  not  to  do  it. 
I  will  not  do  so  again.  Promise  me,  Jacob,  will  you  ? " 
continued  Mary,  taking  me  by  the  arm,  and  looking 
beseechingly  in  my  face. 

"  Mary,  I  never  will  be  a  mischief-maker ;  but  recollect, 
I  exact  the  performance  of  your  promise." 

"  Oh  !  and  I  will  keep  it,  now  that  I  know  he  will  soon 
be  home.  I  can,  I  think  I  can — I'm  sure  I  can  wait  a 
month  or  two  without  flirting.  But,  I  do  wish  that  I  was 
not  left  so  much  alone.  I  wish  Tom  was  at  home  to  take 
care  of  me,  for  there  is  no  one  else.  I  can't  take  care  of 
myself." 

I  saw  by  Mary's  countenance  that  she  was  in  earnest,  and 


380  Jacob  Faithful 

I  therefore  made  friends  with  her,  and  we  conversed  for 
two  hours,  chiefly  about  Tom.  When  I  left  her,  she  had 
recovered  her  usual  spirits,  and  said  at  parting,  looking 
archly  at  me,  "  Now,  you  will  see  how  wise  and  how 
prudent  I  shall  be." 

I  shook  my  head,  and  left  her  that  I  might  find  out  old 
friend  Stapleton,  who,  as  usual,  was  at  the  door  of  the 
public-house,  smoking  his  pipe.  At  first  he  did  not 
recognise  me,  for  when  I  accosted  him,  he  put  his  open 
hand  to  his  ear,  as  usual,  and  desired  me  to  speak  a  little 
louder,  but  I  answered,  "Nonsense,  Stapleton,  that  won't 
do  with  me."  He  then  took  his  pipe  out  of  his  mouth, 
and  looked  me  full  in  the  face. 

"  Jacob,  as  I'm  alive  !  Didn't  know  you  in  your  long 
togs — thought  you  was  a  gentleman  wanting  a  boat. 
Well,  I  hardly  need  say  how  glad  I  am  to  see  you  after  so 
long ;  that's  no  more  than  human  natur.  And  how's 
Tom  ?     Have  you  seen  Mary  ? " 

These  two  questions  enabled  me  to  introduce  the  subject 
that  I  wished.  I  told  him  of  the  attachment  and  troth 
pledged  between  the  two,  and  how  wrong  it  was  for  him 
to  leave  her  so  much  alone.  The  old  man  agreed  with  me 
and  said,  that  as  to  talking  to  the  men,  that  was  on  Mary's 
part  nothing  but  "human  natur;"  and  that  as  for  Tom 
wishing  to  be  at  home  and  seeing  her  again,  that  also  was 
nothing  but  "  human  natur ; "  but  that  he  would  smoke 
his  pipe  at  home  in  future,  and  keep  the  soldiers  out  of 
the  house.  Satisfied  with  this  assurance,  I  left  him,  and 
taking  another  wherry,  went  up  to  Brentford  to  see  the 
Domine. 


Jacob  Faithful  381 


Chapter  XLI 

All  the  little  boys  are  let  loose,  and  the  Domine  is  caught — Anxious  to 
supply  my  teeth,  he  falls  in  with  other  teeth,  and  Mrs  Bately  also  shows 
her  teeth — Gin  outside,  gin  in,  and  gin  out  again,  and  old  woman  out 
also — Domine  in  for  it  again — More  like  a  Whig  Ministry  than  a  novel. 

I  FOUND  the  worthy  old  Domine  in  the  school-room, 
seated  at  his  elevated  desk,  the  usher  not  present,  and  the 
boys  making  a  din  enough  to  have  awaked  a  person  from  a 
trance.  That  he  was  in  one  of  his  deep  reveries,  and  that 
the  boys  had  taken  advantage  of  it  was  evident.  "  Mr 
Dobbs,"  said  I,  walking  close  up  to  the  desk,  but  the 
Domine  answered  not.  I  repeated  his  name  in  a  louder 
voice. 

*'  Cosine  of  x  +  ab  —  z—  ^-y  such  must  be  the  result,"  said 
the  Domine,  talking  to  himself.  "  Yet  it  doth  not  prove 
correct.  I  may  be  in  error.  Let  me  revise  my  work,"  and 
the  Domine  lifted  up  his  desk  to  take  out  another  piece  of 
paper.  When  the  desk  lid  was  raised,  I  removed  his  work 
and  held  it  behind  me. 

"  But  how  is  this  ? "  exclaimed  the  Domine,  and  he 
looked  everywhere  for  his  previous  calculations.  "  Nay," 
continued  he,  *'  it  must  have  been  the  wind  j  "  and  then  he 
cast  his  eyes  about  until  they  fixed  upon  me  laughing  at 
him.  *'  Eheu  !  what  do  my  eyes  perceive  ? — It  is, — yet  it 
is  not, — yes,  most  truly  it  is,  my  son  Jacob.  Welcome, 
most  welcome,"  cried  the  old  man,  descending  from  his 
desk,  and  clasping  me  in  his  arms.  "  Long  is  it  since  I 
have  seen  thee,  my  son,  Interea  magnum  sol  circumvolvitur 
annum.  Long,  yes  long,  have  I  yearned  for  thy  return, 
fearful  lest,  nudus  in  tgnota  arena,  thou  mightest,  like  another 
Palinurus,  have  been  cast  away.  Thou  art  returned,  and 
all  is  well ;  as  the  father  said  in  the  Scripture,  I  have  found 
my  son  which  I  had  lost  ;  but  no  prodigal  thou,  though  I 
use  the  quotation  as  apt.  Now  all  is  well,  thou  hast 
escaped  the  danger  of  the  battle,  the  fire  and  the  wreck. 


382  Jacob  Faithful 

and  now  thou  mayest  hang  up  thy  wet  garment  as  a  votive 
offering ;  as  Horace  hath  it,  Uvida  suspendisse  potenti 
'uest'imenta  inar'is  Deo" 

During  the  apostrophe  of  the  Domine,  the  boys  perceiving 
that  he  was  no  longer  wrapped  up  in  his  algebra,  had 
partly  settled  to  their  desks,  and  in  their  apparent  attention 
to  their  lessons,  reminded  me  of  the  humming  of  bees 
before  a  hive  on  a  summer's  day. 

"  Boys,"  cried  the  Domine,  "  fiunc  est  ludendum  5  verily  ye 
shall  have  a  holiday  ;  put  up  your  books,  and  depart  in 
peace." 

The  books  were  hastily  put  up,  in  obedience  to  the 
command  ;  the  depart  in  peace  was  not  so  rigidly  adhered 
to — they  gave  a  loud  shout,  and  in  a  few  seconds  the 
Domine  and  I  stood  alone  in  the  school-room. 

"  Come,  Jacob,  let  us  adjourn  to  my  sanctum ;  there 
may  we  commune  without  interruption.  Thou  shalt  tell 
me  thine  adventures,  and  I  will  communicate  to  thee  what 
hath  been  made  known  to  me  relative  to  those  with  whom 
thou  wert  acquainted." 

"  First  let  me  beg  you  to  give  me  something  to  eat,  for 
I  am  not  a  little  hungry,"  interrupted  I,  as  we  gained  the 
kitchen. 

"  Verily,  shalt  thou  have  all  that  we  possess,  Jacob  ;  yet 
now,  I  think,  that  will  not  be  much,  seeing  that  I  and  our 
worthy  matron  did  pick  the  bones  of  a  shoulder  of  mutton, 
this  having  been  our  fourth  day  of  repast  upon  it. 
She  is  out,  yet  I  will  venture  to  intrude  into  the  privacy 
of  her  cupboard,  for  thy  sake.  Peradventure  she  may  be 
wroth,  yet  will  I  risk  her  displeasure."  So  saying,  the  old 
Domine  opened  the  cupboard,  and  one  by  one,  handed  to 
me  the  dishes  with  their  contents.  '*  Here,  Jacob,  are  two 
hard  dumplings  from  yesterday.  Canst  thou  relish  cold, 
hard  dumplings  ? — but,  stop,  here  is  something  more 
savoury — half  of  a  cold  cabbage,  which  was  left  this 
day.  We  will  look  again.  Here  is  meat — yes,  it  is  meat ; 
but  now  do  I  perceive  it  is  a  piece  of  lights  reserved  for 
the  dinner  of  the  cat  to-morrow.     I   am  fearful  that  we 


Jacob  Faithful  383 

must  not  venture  upon  that,  for  the  dame  will  be 
wroth." 

"  Pray  put  it  back,  sir  ;  I  would  not  interfere  with  puss 
on  any  account." 

**  Nay,  then,  Jacob,  I  see  naught  else,  unless  there  may 
be  viands  on  the  upper  shelf.  Sir,  here  is  bread,  the 
staff  of  life,  and  also  a  fragment  of  cheese ;  and  now, 
methinks,  I  discern  something  dark  at  the  back  of  the 
shelf."  The  Domine  extended  his  hand,  and  immediately 
withdrew  it,  jumping  from  his  chair,  with  a  loud  cry. 
He  had  put  his  fingers  into  a  rat  gin,  set  by  the  old 
woman  for  those  intruders,  and  he  held  up  his  arm  and 
stamped  as  he  shouted  out  with  the  pain.  I  hastened  to 
him,  and  pressing  down  the  spring,  released  his  fingers 
from  the  teeth,  which,  however,  had  drawn  blood,  as 
well  as  bruised  him ;  fortunately,  like  most  of  the  articles 
of  their  menage,  the  trap  was  a  very  old  one,  and  he 
was  not  much  hurt.  The  Domine  thrust  his  fingers  into 
his  capacious  mouth,  and  held  them  there  some  time 
without  speaking.  He  began  to  feel  a  little  ease,  when 
in  came  the  matron. 

**Why,  what's  all  this?"  said  she  in  a  querulous  tone. 
"  Jacob  here,  and  all  my  cupboard  on  the  table.  Jacob, 
how  dare  you  go  to  my  cupboard  ? " 

"  It  was  the  Domine,  Mrs  Bately,  who  looked  there 
for  something  for  me  to  eat,  and  he  has  been  caught  in 
a  rat-trap." 

"  Serve  him  right;  I  have  forbade  him  that  cupboard. 
Have  I  not,  Mr  Dobbs  ? " 

"Yea,  and  verily,"  quoth  the  Domine,  "and  I  do 
repent  me  that  I  took  not  thine  advice,  for  look  at  my 
fingers ; "  and  the  Domine  extended  his  lacerated  digits. 

"Dear  me!  well  I'd  no  idea  that  a  rat-trap  pinched 
so  hard,"  replied  the  old  woman,  whose  wrath  was 
appeased.  "  How  it  must  hurt  the  poor  things — I  won't 
set  it  again,  but  leave  them  all  to  the  cat ;  he'll  kill  them, 
if  he  only  can  get  at  them."  The  old  lady  went  to  a 
drawer,  unlocked  it,  brought  out  some  fragments  of  rags, 


384  Jacob  Faithful 

and  a  bottle  of  friar's  balsam,  which  she  applied  to  the 
Domine's  hand,  and  then  bound  it  up,  scolding  him  the 
whole  time.  "  How  stupid  of  you,  Mr  Dobbs ;  you 
know  that  I  was  only  out  for  a  few  minutes.  Why 
didn't  you  wait — and  why  did  you  go  to  the  cupboard  ? 
Hav'n't  I  always  told  you  not  to  look  into  it  ?  and  now 
you  see  the  consequences." 

"  Verily  my  hand  burneth,"  replied  the  Domine. 

"I  will  go  for  cold  water,  and  it  will  ease  you.  What 
a  deal  of  trouble  you  do  give,  Mr  Dobbs ;  you're  worse 
than  a  charity  boy  ; "  and  the  old  lady  departed  to  the 
pump. 

"  Vinegar  is  a  better  thing,  sir,"  said  I,  "and  there  is 
a  bottle  in  the  cupboard,  which  I  dare  say  is  vinegar." 
I  went  to  the  cupboard,  and  brought  out  the  bottle,  took 
out  the  cork  and  smelt  it.  "This  is  not  vinegar,  sir,  it 
is  Hollands  or  gin." 

"  Then  would  I  like  a  glass,  Jacob,  for  I  feel  a  sickening 
faintness  upon  me ;  yet  be  quick,  peradventure  the  old 
woman  may  return." 

"  Drink  out  of  the  bottle,  sir,"  said  I,  perceiving  that 
the  Domine  looked  very  pale,  "  and  I  will  give  you  notice 
of  her  approach."  The  Domine  put  the  bottle  to  his 
mouth,  and  was  taking  a  sufficient  draught,  when  the 
old  woman  returned  by  another  door  which  was  behind 
us ;  she  had  gone  that  way  for  a  wash-basin.  Before 
we  could  perceive  her,  she  came  behind  the  Domine, 
snatched  the  bottle  from  his  mouth  with  a  jerk  that 
threw  a  portion  of  the  spirits  in  his  eyes,  and  blinded 
him. 

"  That's  why  you  went  to  my  cupboard,  is  it,  Mr 
Dobbs  ? "  cried  she,  in  a  passion.  "  That's  it,  is  it  ?  I 
thought  my  bottle  went  very  fast ;  seeing  that  I  don't 
take  more  than  a  teaspoonful  every  night,  for  the  wind 
which  vexes  me  so  much.  I'll  set  the  rat-trap  again,  you 
may  depend  upon  it ;  and  now  you  may  get  somebody 
else  to  bind  your  fingers." 

"  It  was  I  who  took  it  out,  Mrs  Bately ;  the  Domine 


Jacob  Faithful  385 

would  have  fainted  with  pain.  It  was  very  lucky  that 
he  has  a  housekeeper  who  is  careful  to  have  something 
of  the  kind  in  the  house,  or  he  might  have  been  dead. 
You  surely  don't  begrudge  a  little  of  your  medicine  to 
recover  Mr  Dobbs  ? " 

"  Peace,  woman,  peace,"  said  the  Domine,  who  had 
gained  courage  by  his  potation.  ** Peace,  I  say:  I  knew 
not  that  thou  hadst  in  thy  cupboard  either  a  gin  for  my 
hand,  or  gin  for  thy  mouth ;  since  I  have  been  taken  in 
the  one,  it  is  but  fair  that  I  should  take  in  the  other. 
In  future  both  thy  gins  will  not  be  interfered  with  by 
me.  Bring  me  the  basin,  that  I  may  appease  my  angry 
wounds,  and  then  hasten  to  procure  some  viands  to 
appease  the  hunger  of  my  son  Jacob ;  lastly,  appease 
thine  own  wrath.  Pax.  Peace,  I  say  ; "  and  the  old 
woman,  who  perceived  that  the  Domine  had  asserted 
his  right  of  dominion,  went  to  obey  his  orders,  grumbling 
till  she  was  out  of  hearing.  The  application  of  the  cold 
pump-water  soon  relieved  the  pain  of  the  good  old 
Domine,  and,  with  his  hand  remaining  in  the  basin,  we 
commenced  a  long  conversation. 

At  first  I  narrated  to  him  the  events  which  had  occurred 
during  my  service  on  board  of  the  frigate.  When  I  told 
him  of  my  parting  with  Tom,  he  observed,  "  Verily  do  I 
remember  that  young  Tom,  a  jocund,  pleasant,  yet  in- 
trusive lad.  Yet  do  I  wish  him  well,  and  am  grieved  that 
he  should  be  so  taken  by  that  maiden,  Mary,  Well  may 
we  say  of  her,  as  Horace  hath  of  Pyrrha — *  Quis  miiltd 
gracilis  te  puer  in  rosd,  perfusis  liquidis  urgit  odoribus,  grate , 
Pyrrha,  sub  antra,  Cui  jlavam  religas  comam,  simplex 
,  munditiis.''  I  grieve  at  it,  yea,  grieve  much.  Heu,  quoties 
fidem  mutatosque  Deos  Jlebit  !  Verily,  Jacob,  I  do  prophesy 
that  she  will  lead  him  into  error,  yea,  perhaps  into 
perdition." 

"  I  trust  not,  sir,"  replied  I ;  but  the  Domine  made  no 
answer.  For  half  an  hour  he  was  in  deep  and  serious 
thought,  during  which  Mrs  Bately  entered,  and  spreading 
a  cloth,  brought  in  from  the  other  room  some  rashers  of 

J.F.  2  B 


386  Jacob  Faithful 

bacon  and  eggs,  upon  which  I  made  a  hasty  and  hearty 
meal.  The  old  matron's  temper  was  now  smoothed,  and 
she  welcomed  me  kindly,  and  shortly  after  went  out 
for  a  fresh  basin  of  cold  water  for  the  Domine  to  bathe 
his  hand.  This  roused  him,  and  he  recommenced  the 
conversation. 

"  Jacob,  I  have  not  yet  congratulated  thee  upon  thy 
accession  to  wealth ;  not  that  I  do  not  sincerely  rejoice  in 
it,  but  because  the  pleasure  of  thy  presence  has  made  me 
unmindful  of  it.  Still,  was  it  fortunate  for  thee  that  thou 
hadst  raised  up  such  a  friend  as  Mr  Turnbull  j  otherwise 
what  would  have  been  the  result  of  thy  boasted  independ- 
ence ?  Thou  wouldst  probably  have  remained  many  years 
on  board  of  a  man-of-war,  and  have  been  killed,  or  have 
returned  mutilated,  to  die  unknown." 

"You  were  right,  sir,"  replied  I;  *' my  independence 
was  nothing  but  pride ;  and  I  did  bitterly  repent,  as  you 
said  I  should  do,  even  before  I  was  pressed  into  the  king's 
service — but  Mr  Drummond  never  repeated  his  offers." 

"He  never  did,  Jacob;  but  as  I  have  since  been  in- 
formed by  him,  although  he  was  taken  by  surprise  at  thy 
being  forced  away  to  serve  thy  country,  still  he  was  not 
sure  that  you  would  accept  them ;  and  he,  moreover, 
wished  you  fully  to  feel  thine  own  folly.  Long  before 
you  had  made  friends  with  him,  he  had  attested  the  will 
of  Mr  Turnbull,  and  was  acquainted  with  the  contents. 
Yet  did  he  watch  over  thee,  and  had  he  thought  that  thy 
way  of  life  had  led  thee  into  that  which  was  wrong,  he 
would  have  interfered  to  save  thee ;  but  he  considered 
with  Shakespeare,  that  *  sweet  were  the  uses  of  adversity,' 
and  that  thou  wouldst  be  more  schooled  by  remaining 
some  time  under  her  unprepossessing  frowns.  He  hath 
ever  been  thy  friend." 

"  I  can  believe  it.     I  trust  he  is  well,  and  his  family." 

**  They  were  well  and  prosperous  but  a  little  while  ago, 

Jacob ;  yet  I  have  seen  but  little  of  them  since  the  death 

of  Mr  Turnbull.     It  will  pain  thee  to  hear  that  affliction 

at   thy  absence   hastened   his   dissolution.     I  was   at  his 


Jacob  Faithful  387 

death-bed,  Jacob;  and  I  verily  believe  he  was  a  good  man, 
and  will  meet  the  reward  of  one  -,  yet,  did  he  talk  most 
strangely,  and  reminded  me  of  that  remnant  of  a  man  you 
call  old  Tom.  '  It's  no  use,  old  gentleman,'  said  he,  as  he 
lay  in  his  bed  supported  by  pillows,  for  he  had  wasted 
away  till  he  was  but  a  skeleton,  having  broken  a  blood- 
vessel with  his  violent  coughing — '  It's  no  use  pouring 
that  doctor's  stuff  down  my  throat ;  my  anchor's  short 
stay  apeak,  and  in  a  few  minutes  I  shall  trip  it,  I  trust  for 
heaven,  where  I  hope  there  are  moorings  laid  down  for  me.' 
*  I  would  fain  comprehend  thee,'  replied  I,  *  but  thou 
speakest  in  parables.'  '  I  mean  to  say  that  death  has 
driven  his  harpoon  in  up  to  the  shank,  and  that  I  struggle 
in  vain.  I  have  run  out  all  my  line.  I  shall  turn  up  in  a 
few  minutes — so  give  my  love  and  blessing  to  Jacob — he 
saved  my  life  once — but  now  I'm  gone.'  With  these  last 
words  his  spirit  took  its  flight ;  and  thus,  Jacob,  did  your 
benefactor  breathe  his  last,  invoking  a  blessing  on  your 
head." 

I  remained  silent  for  a  few  minutes,  for  I  was  much 
affected  by  the  Domlne's  description  j  he  at  length  resumed 
the  conversation. 

"  Thou  hast  not  yet  seen  the  Drummonds,  Jacob  ? " 

"I  have  not,"  I  replied,  "but  I  will  call  upon  them 
to-morrow  ;  but  it  is  time  that  I  should  go,  for  I  have  to 
return  to  London." 

"Thou  needest  not,  Jacob.  Thine  own  house  is  at 
hand." 

"  My  own  house  !  " 

"  Yes  ;  by  the  will  of  Mr  Turnbull,  his  wife  has  been 
left  a  handsome  jointure,  but,  for  reasons  which  he  did 
not  explain,  the  house  and  furniture  are  not  left  to  her, 
but,  as  residuary  legatee,  belong  to  thee." 

"  Indeed  ! — then  where  is  Mrs  Turnbull  ? " 

"  At  Bath,  where  she  hath  taken  up  her  residence.  Mr 
Drummond,  who  hath  acted  in  thy  behalf,  permitted  her  to 
take  away  such  articles  as  she  might  wish,  but  they  were 
but  few,  chiefly  those  little  objects  which  filled  up  rather 


388  Jacob  Faithful 

than  adorned  the  drawing-room.     The  house  is  all  ready 

for  thy  reception,  and  thou  mayest  take  possession  this 

evening." 

*'  But  why  did  not  Mr  Turnbull  leave  it  to  his  widow  ?" 
*'  I  cannot  exactly  say,  but  I  think  he  did  not  wish  her 

to  remain  in  this  place.     He,  therefore,  left  her  ^5000  at 

her  own  disposal,  to  enable  her  to  purchase  and  furnish 

another." 

I  then  took  my  leave  of  the  Domine,  and  it  being  rather 

late,  I  resolved  to  walk  to  the  house  and  sleep  there. 


Chapter  XLII 

In  which  I  take  possession  of  my  own  house,  and  think  that  it  looks  very 
ill-furnished  without  a  wife — Tom's  discharge  is  sent  out,  but  by  accident 
it  never  reaches  him — I  take  my  new  station  in  society. 

On  my  arrival,  the  front  gates  were  opened  by  the 
gardener's  wife,  v/ho  made  me  a  profound  courtesy.  The 
gardener  soon  afterwards  made  his  appearance,  hat  in  hand. 
Everything  was  neat,  and  in  good  order.  I  entered  the 
house,  and  as  soon  as  possible  rid  myself  of  their  obsequious 
attentions.  I  wished  to  be  alone.  Powerful  feelings 
crowded  on  my  mind.  I  hastened  to  Mr  Turnbull's  study, 
and  sat  down  in  the  chair  so  lately  occupied  by  him.  The 
proud  feeling  of  possession,  softened  into  gratitude  to 
Heaven,  and  sorrow  at  his  death,  came  over  me,  and  I 
remained  for  a  long  while  in  a  deep  reverie.  *'  And  all 
this,  and  more,  much  more,  are  mine,"  I  mentally  exclaimed: 
"  the  sailor  before  the  mast,  the  waterman  on  the  river,  the 
charity-boy,  the  orphan  sits  down  in  quiet  possession  of 
luxury  and  wealth.  What  have  I  done  to  deserve  all  this  ? " 
My  heart  told  me  nothing,  or  if  anything,  it  was  almost 
valueless,  and  I  poured  forth  my  soul  in  thanks  to  Heaven. 
I  felt  more  composed  after  I  had  performed  this  duty,  and 
my  thoughts  then  dwelt  upon  my  benefactor.  I  surveyed 
the  room — the  drawings,  the  furs  and  skins,  the  harpoons 


Jacob  Faithful  389 

and  other  instruments,  all  remaining  in  their  respective 
places,  as  when  I  last  had  an  interview  with  Mr  Turnbull. 
I  remembered  his  kindness,  his  singleness  of  heart,  his 
honesty,  his  good  sense,  and  his  real  worth ;  and  I  shed 
many  tears  for  his  loss.  My  thoughts  then  passed  to  Sarah 
Drummond,  and  I  felt  much  uneasiness  on  that  score. 
Would  she  receive  me,  or  would  she  still  remember  what 
I  had  been  ?  I  recollected  her  kindness  and  good  will  to- 
wards me.  I  weighed  these,  and  my  present  condition, 
against  my  origin  and  my  former  occupation  -,  and  could 
not  ascertain  how  the  scale  might  turn.  I  shall  soon  see, 
thought  I.  To-morrow,  even,  may  decide  the  question. 
The  gardener's  wife  knocked  at  the  door,  and  announced 
that  my  bed  was  prepared.  I  went  to  sleep,  dreaming  of 
Sarah,  young  Tom,  the  Domine,  and  Mary  Stapleton. 

I  was  up  early  the  next  morning,  and  hastened  to  the 
hotel ;  when  having  arranged  my  person  to  the  best  of  my 
power  (but  at  the  same  time  never  so  little  to  my  satisfac- 
tion), I  proceeded  to  the  house  of  Mr  Drummond.  I 
knocked ;  and  this  time  I  was  not  desired  to  wait  in  the 
hall,  but  was  immediately  ushered  up  into  the  drawing- 
room.  Sarah  Drummond  was  sitting  alone  at  her  drawing. 
My  name  was  announced  as  I  entered.  She  started  from 
her  chair,  and  blushed  deeply  as  she  moved  towards 
me.  We  joined  hands  in  silence.  I  was  breathless  with 
emotion.  Never  had  she  appeared  so  beautiful.  Neither 
party  appeared  willing  to  break  silence :  at  last  I  faltered 
out,  "  Miss  Drummond," — and  then  I  stopped. 

"Mr  Faithful,"  replied  shej  and  then,  after  a  break — 
*'  How  very  silly  this  is  :  I  ought  to  have  congratulated  you 
upon  your  safe  return,  and  upon  your  good  fortune :  and, 
indeed,  Mr  Faithful,  no  one  can  do  so  more  sincerely." 

"  Miss  Drummond,"  replied  I,  confused,  "  when  I  was 
an  orphan,  a  charity-boy,  and  a  waterman,  you  called  me 
Jacob :  if  the  alteration  in  my  prospects  induces  you  to 
address  me  in  so  formal  a  manner — if  we  are  in  future  to 
be  on  such  different  terms — I  can  only  say,  that  I  wish  that 
I  were  again — ^Jacob  Faithful,  the  waterman." 


39^  Jacob  Faithful 

"Nay,"  replied  she,  "recollect  that  it  was  your  own 
choice  to  be  a  waterman.  You  might  have  been  different 
— very  different.  You  might  at  this  time  have  been  partner 
with  my  father,  for  he  said  so  but  last  night,  when  we  were 
talking  about  you.  But  you  refused  all :  you  threw  away 
your  education,  your  talents,  your  good  qualities,  from  a 
foolish  pride,  which  you  considered  independence.  My 
father  almost  humbled  himself  to  you — not  that  it  is  ever 
humiliating  to  acknowledge  and  attempt  to  repair  a  fault, 
but  still  he  did  more  than  could  be  expected  from  most 
people.  Your  friends  persuaded  you,  but  you  rejected 
their  advice  ;  and,  what  was  still  more  unpardonable,  even 
I  had  no  influence  over  you.  As  long  as  you  punished 
yourself  I  did  not  upbraid  you  ;  but  now  that  you  have 
been  so  fortunate,  I  tell  you  plainly " 

"What?" 

"That  it  is  more  than  you  deserve,  that's  all." 

"  You  have  said  but  the  truth.  Miss  Drummond.  I  was 
very  proud  and  very  foolish ;  but  I  had  repented  of  my 
folly  long  before  I  was  pressed  ;  and  I  candidly  acknow- 
ledge that  I  do  not  merit  the  good  fortune  I  have  met 
with.     Can  I  say  more  ?  " 

"  No  :  I  am  satisfied  with  your  repentance  and  acknow- 
ledgment. So,  now  you  may  sit  down  and  make  yourself 
agreeable." 

"  Before  I  do  that,  allow  me  to  ask,  as  you  address  me 
as  Mr  Faithful,  how  am  I  to  address  you  ?  I  should  not 
wish  to  be  considered  impertinent." 

"My  name  is  Miss  Drummond,  but  those  who  feel 
intimate  with  me  call  me  Sarah." 

"  I  may  reply  that  my  name  is  Faithful,  but  those  who 
feel  intimate  with  me  call  me  Jacob." 

"Very  true;  but  allow  me  to  observe  that  you  show 
very  little  tact.  You  should  never  force  a  lady  into  a 
corner.  If  I  appear  affronted  when  you  call  me  Sarah, 
then  you  will  do  wise  to  fall  back  upon  Miss  Drummond. 
But  why  do  you  fix  your  eyes  upon  me  so  earnestly  ? " 

"I  cannot  help  it,  and  must  beg  your  pardon  ;  but  you 


Jacob  Faithful  391 

are  so  improved  in  appearance  since  I  last  saw  you.  I 
thought  no  one  could  be  more  perfect,  but " 

"Well,  that's  not  a  bad  beginning,  Jacob.  I  Uke  to 
hear  of  my  perfections.     Now  follow  up  your  but" 

"I  hardly  know  what  I  was  going  to  say,  but  I  think  it 
was,  that  I  do  not  feel  as  if  I  ought  or  can  address  you 
otherwise  than  as  Miss  Drummond." 

"  Oh  !  you've  thought  better  of  it,  have  you  ?  Well,  I 
begin  to  think  myself  that  you  look  so  well  in  your 
present  dress,  and  have  become  so  very  different  a  person, 
that  I  ought  not  to  address  you  by  any  other  name  than 
Mr  Faithful.     So  now  we  are  agreed." 

"  That's  not  what  I  mean  to  say." 

*'  Well,  then,  let  me  know  what  you  did  mean  to  say." 

This  puzzling  question  fortunately  did  not  require  an 
answer,  for  Mr  Drummond  came  into  the  room  and  ex- 
tended his  hand. 

"  My  dear  Jacob,"  said  he,  in  the  most  friendly  manner, 
"  I'm  delighted  to  see  you  back  again,  and  to  have  the 
pleasure  of  congratulating  you  on  your  good  fortune. 
But  you  have  business  to  transact  which  will  not  admit  of 
any  delay.  You  must  prove  the  will,  and  arrange  with 
the  lawyers  as  soon  as  possible.  Will  you  come  now  ? 
All  the  papers  are  below,  and  I  have  the  whole  morning 
to  spare.  We  will  be  back  to  dinner,  Sarah,  if  Jacob  has 
no  other  engagement." 

"  I  have  none,"  replied  I ;  **  and  shall  be  most  happy  to 
avail  myself  of  your  kindness.  Miss  Drummond,  I  wish 
you  a  good  morning." 

^^  Au  revoir,  Mr  Faithful,"  replied  Sarah,  courtesying 
formally,  with  a  mocking  smile. 

The  behaviour  of  Mr  Drummond  towards  me  was  most 
kind  and  parental,  and  my  eyes  were  often  suffused  with 
tears  during  the  occupation  of  the  morning.  The  most 
urgent  business  was  got  through,  and  an  interview  with 
Mr  TurnbuU's  solicitor  put  the  remainder  in  progress  ; 
still  it  was  so  late  when  we  had  accomplished  it,  that  I  had 
no  time  to  dress.    On  my  return,  Mrs  Drummond  received 


392  Jacob  Faithful 

me  with  her  usual  kindness.  I  narrated,  during  the  even- 
ing, my  adventures  since  we  parted,  and  took  that  oppor- 
tunity to  acknowledge  to  Mr  Drummond  how  bitterly  I 
had  repented  my  folly,  and  I  may  add  ingratitude,  towards 
him. 

"Jacob,"  said  he,  as  we  were  sitting  at  the  tea-table 
with  Mrs  Drummond  and  Sarah,  "  I  knew  at  the  time  that 
you  were  toiling  on  the  river  for  shillings  that  you  were 
the  inheritor  of  thousands  ;  for  I  not  only  witnessed  but 
read  the  will  of  Mr  Turnbull  ;  but  I  thought  it  best  that 
you  should  have  a  lesson  which  you  would  never  forget  in 
after  life.  There  is  no  such  thing  in  this  world  as  inde- 
pendence, unless  in  a  savage  state.  In  society  we  are  all 
mutually  dependent  upon  each  other.  Independence  of 
mind  we  may  have,  but  no  more.  As  a  waterman,  you 
were  dependent  upon  your  customers,  as  every  poor  man 
must  be  upon  those  who  have  more  means  ;  and  in  refusing 
my  offers,  you  were  obliged  to  apply  for  employment  to 
others.  The  rich  are  as  entirely  dependent  upon  others  as 
the  poor ;  they  depend  upon  them  for  their  food,  their 
clothes,  their  necessities,  and  their  luxuries.  Such  ever 
will  be  the  case  in  society,  and  the  more  refined  the  society 
may  be — the  more  civilised  its  parts — the  greater  is  the 
mutual  dependence.  Still  it  is  an  error  originating  in  itself 
from  high  feelings,  and  therefore  must  be  considered  as  an 
error  on  the  right  side  ;  but  recollect  how  much  you  might 
have  thrown  away,  had  not  you,  in  the  first  place,  secured 
such  a  friend  as  Mr  Turnbull  ;  and,  secondly,  if  the  death 
of  that  friend  had  not  so  soon  put  you  in  possession." 

I  was  but  too  ready  to  acknowledge  the  truth  of  these 
remarks.  The  evening  passed  away  so  rapidly  that  it 
was  midnight  before  I  rose  to  take  my  leave,  and  I  re- 
turned to  the  hotel  as  happy  in  my  mind,  and  as  grateful 
as  ever  any  mortal  could  possibly  be.  The  next  day,  I 
removed  to  the  house  left  me  by  Mr  Turnbull,  and  the 
first  order  I  gave  was  for  a  wherry.  Such  was  the  force 
of  habit,  I  could  not  do  without  one ;  and  half  my  time 
was  spent  upon  the  river,  pulling  every  day  down  to  Mr 


Jacob  Faithful  393 

Drummond's,  and  returning  in  the  evening,  or  late  at 
night.  Thus  passed  away  two  months,  during  which  I 
occasionally  saw  the  Domine,  the  Stapletons,  and  old 
Tom  Beazeley.  I  had  exerted  myself  to  procure  Tom's 
discharge,  and  at  last  had  the  pleasure  of  telling  the  old 
people  that  it  was  to  go  out  by  the  next  packet.  By 
the  Drummonds  I  was  received  as  a  member  of  the  family 
— there  was  no  hinderance  to  my  being  alone  with  Sarah 
for  hours  j  and  although  I  had  not  ventured  to  declare 
my  sentiments,  they  appeared  to  be  well  understood,  as 
well  by  the  parents  as  by  Sarah  herself. 

Two  days  after  I  had  communicated  this  welcome  intel- 
ligence to  the  old  couple,  as  I  was  sitting  at  breakfast, 
attended  by  the  gardener  and  his  wife  (for  I  had  made 
no  addition  to  my  establishment),  what  was  my  surprise 
at  the  appearance  of  young  Tom,  who  entered  the  room 
as  usual,  laughing  as  he  held  out  his  hand. 

"  Tom !  "  exclaimed  I,  "  why,  how  did  you  come 
here  ? " 

"  By  water,  Jacob,  as  you  may  suppose." 

"But  how  have  you  received  your  discharge  ?  Is  the 
ship  come  home  ? " 

**  I  hope  not :  the  fact  is,  I  discharged  myself,  Jacob." 

*'  What !  did  you  desert  ?  " 

**  Even  so.  I  had  three  reasons  for  so  doing.  In  the 
first  place,  I  could  not  remain  without  you  ;  in  the  second, 
my  mother  wrote  to  say  Mary  was  taking  up  with  a 
sodger ;  and  the  third  was,  I  was  put  into  the  report 
for  punishment,  and  should  have  been  flogged,  as  sure 
as  the  Captain  had  a  pair  of  epaulettes." 

"Well,  but  sit  down  and  tell  me  all  about  it.  You 
know  your  discharge  is  obtained." 

"  Yes,  thanks  to  you,  Jacob  j  all  the  better,  for  now 
they  won't  look  after  me.  All's  well  that  ends  well. 
After  you  went  away,  I  presume  I  was  not  in  the  very 
best  of  humours ;  and  that  rascal  of  a  master's  mate  who 
had  us  pressed,  thought  proper  to  bully  me  beyond  all 
bearing.     One  day,  he  called  me  a  lying  scoundrel ;  upon 


394  Jacob  Faithful 

which  I  forgot  that  I  was  on  board  of  a  man-of-war, 
and  replied  that  he  was  a  confounded  cheat,  and  that  he 
had  better  pay  me  his  debt  of  two  guineas  for  bringing  him 
down  the  river.  He  reported  me  on  the  quarter-deck 
for  caUing  him  a  cheat,  and  Captain  Maclean,  who,  you 
know,  won't  stand  any  nonsense,  heard  the  arguments  on 
both  sides ;  upon  which  he  declared  that  the  conduct  of 
the  master's  mate  was  not  that  of  an  officer  or  a  gentleman, 
and  therefore  he  should  leave  the  ship ;  and  that  my 
language  to  my  superior  officer  was  subversive  to  the 
discipline  of  the  service,  and  therefore  he  should  give 
me  a  good  flogging.  Now,  Jacob,  you  know  that  if  the 
officers  don't  pay  their  debts.  Captain  Maclean  always 
does,  and  with  interest  into  the  bargain ;  so  finding  that 
I  was  in  for  it,  and  no  mistake,  I  swam  ashore  the  night 
before  Black  Monday,  and  made  my  way  to  Miramichi, 
without  any  adventure,  except  a  tussle  with  a  sergeant  of 
marines,  whom  I  left  for  dead  about  three  miles  out  of 
the  town.  At  Miramichi,  I  got  on  board  of  a  timber  ship, 
and  here  I  am." 

'*  I  am  sorry  that  you  deserted,  nevertheless,"  replied  I ; 
"  it  may  come  to  mischief." 

"  Never  fear  :  the  people  on  the  river  know  that  I  have 
my  discharge,  and  I'm  safe  enough." 

"  Have  you  seen  Mary  ? " 

"  Yes,  and  all's  right  in  that  quarter.  I  shall  build 
another  wherry,  wear  my  badge  and  dress,  and  stick 
above  bridge.  When  I'm  all  settled,  I'll  splice,  and  live 
along  with  the  old  couple." 

"  But  will  Mary  consent  to  live  there  ?  It  is  so  quiet 
and  retired  that  she  wo'n't  like  it." 

*'  Mary  Stapleton  has  given  herself  airs  enough  in  all 
conscience,  and  has  had  her  own  way  quite  enough.  Mary 
Beazeley  will  do  as  her  husband  wishes,  or  I  will  know 
the  reason  why." 

"  We  shall  see,  Tom.  Bachelor's  wives  are  always  best 
managed,  they  say.  But  now  you  want  money  to  buy 
your  boat." 


Jacob  Faithful  395 

"  Yes,  if  you'll  lend  it  to  me  ;  I  don't  like  to  take  it 
away  from  the  old  people ;  and  I'll  pay  you  when  I  can, 
Jacob." 

"  No ;  you  must  accept  this,  Tom ;  and  when  you 
marry  you  must  accept  something  more,"  replied  I,  handing 
the  notes  to  him. 

"  With  all  my  heart,  Jacob.  I  never  can  repay  you  for 
what  you  have  done  for  me,  and  so  I  may  just  as  well 
increase  the  debt." 

**  That's  good  logic,  Tom." 

"  Quite  as  good  as  independence  ;  is  it  not,  Jacob  .''  " 

"  Better,  much  better,  as  I  know  to  my  cost,"  replied  I, 
laughing. 

Tom  finished  his  breakfast,  and  then  took  his  leave. 
After  breakfast,  as  usual,  I  went  to  the  boat-house,  and 
unchaining  my  wherry,  pulled  up  the  river,  which  I  had 
not  hitherto  done ;  my  attendance  upon  Sarah  having 
invariably  turned  the  bow  of  my  wherry  in  the  opposite 
direction.  I  swept  by  the  various  residences  on  the  banks 
of  the  river,  until  I  arrived  opposite  to  that  of  Mr 
WharnclifFe,  and  perceived  a  lady  and  gentleman  in  the 
garden.  I  knew  them  immediately,  and,  as  they  were 
standing  close  to  the  wall,  I  pulled  in  and  saluted  them. 

"  Do  you  recollect  me  ?  "  said  I  to  them,  smiling. 

"  Yes,"  replied  the  lady,  **  I  do  recollect  your  face — 
surely — it  is  Faithful,  the  waterman  !  " 

**  No,  I  am  not  a  waterman  j  I  am  only  amusing  myself 
in  my  own  boat." 

"  Come  up,"  replied  Mr  Wharncliffe ;  "  we  can't  shake 
hands  with  you  at  that  distance." 

I  made  fast  my  wherry  and  joined  them.  They  received 
me  most  cordially. 

"  I  thought  you  were  not  a  waterman,  Mr  Faithful, 
although  you  said  that  you  were,"  said  Mrs  Wharncliffe. 
**  Why  did  you  deceive  us  in  that  way  ?  " 

"  Indeed,  at  that  time  I  was,  from  my  own  choice 
and  my  own  folly,  a  waterman :  now  I  am  so  no 
longer." 


39^  Jacob  Faithful 

We  were  soon  on  the  most  intimate  terms,  and  I 
narrated  part  of  my  adventures.  They  expressed  their 
obligations  to  me,  and  requested  that  I  would  accept  their 
friendship. 

"  Would  you  like  to  have  a  row  on  the  water  ?  It 
is  a  beautiful  day,  and  if  Mrs  WharncliiFe  will  trust 
herself " 

"  Oh  !  I  should  like  it  above  all  things.  Will  you  go, 
William  ?     I  will  run  for  a  shawl." 

In  a  few  minutes  we  were  all  three  embarked,  and  I 
rowed  them  to  my  villa.  They  had  been  admiring  the 
beauty  of  the  various  residences  on  the  banks  of  the 
Thames. 

"How  do  you  like  that  one?"  inquired  I  of  Mrs 
WharncliiFe. 

"It  is  very  handsome,  and  I  think  one  of  the  very 
best." 

"That  is  mine,"  replied  I.  "Will  you  allow  me  to 
show  it  to  you  ?  " 

"  Yours  ! " 

"  Yes,  mine :  but  I  have  a  very  small  establishment,  for 
I  am  a  bachelor." 

We  landed,  and  after  walking  about  the  grounds,  went 
into  the  house. 

"Do  you  recollect  this  room.''"  said  I  to  Mr 
WharncliiFe. 

"  Yes,    indeed   I   do ;  it  was   here   that  the  box  was 

opened,  and  my  uncle's But  we  must  not  say  anything 

about  that :  he  is  dead." 

"  Dead ! " 

"  Yes ;  he  never  held  his  head  up  after  his  dishonesty 
was  discovered.  He  pined  and  died  within  three  months, 
sincerely  repenting  what  he  had  attempted." 

I  accepted  their  invitation  to  dinner,  as  I  rowed  them 
back  to  their  own  residence ;  and  afterwards  had  the 
pleasure  of  enrolling  them  among  my  sincerest  friends. 
Through  them  I  was  introduced  to  Lady  Auburn  and 
many  others  j  and  I  shall  not  forget  the  old  housekeeper 


Jacob  Faithful  397 

recognising  me  one  day,  when  I  was  invited  to  Lady 
Auburn's  villa. 

"  Bless  me  !  what  tricks  you  young  gentlemen  do  play. 
Only  to  think  how  yt>u  asked  me  for  water,  and  how  I 
pushed  the  door  in  your  face,  and  wouldn't  let  you  rest 
yourself.  But  if  you  young  gentlemen  will  disguise  your- 
selves, it's  your  own  faults,  and  you  must  take  the 
consequences." 

My  acquaintances  now  increased  rapidly,  and  I  had  the 
advantage  of  the  best  society.  I  hardly  need  observe 
that  it  was  a  great  advantage ;  for,  although  I  was  not 
considered  awkward,  still  I  wanted  that  polish  which  can 
only  be  obtained  by  an  admixture  with  good  company. 
The  reports  concerning  me  were  various ;  but  it  was 
generally  believed  that  I  was  a  young  man  who  had 
received  an  excellent  education,  and  might  have  been 
brought  forward,  but  that  I  had  taken  a  passion  for  the 
river,  and  had  chosen  to  be  a  waterman  in  preference 
to  any  other  employment;  that  I  had  since  come  into  a 
large  fortune,  and  had  resumed  my  station  in  society. 
How  far  the  false  was  blended  with  the  true,  those  who 
have  read  my  adventures  will  readily  perceive.  For  my 
part,  I  cared  little  what  they  said,  and  I  gave  myself  no 
trouble  to  refute  the  various  assertions.  I  was  not 
ashamed  of  my  birth,  because  it  had  no  effect  upon  the 
Drummonds;  still,  I  knew  the  world  too  well  to  think 
it  necessary  to  blazon  it.  On  the  whole,  the  balance  was 
in  my  favour;  there  was  a  degree  of  romance  in  my 
history,  with  all  its  variations,  which  interested,  and, 
joined  to  the  knowledge  of  my  actual  wealth,  made  me 
to  be  well  received,  and  gained  me  attention  wherever 
I  went.  One  thing  was  much  to  my  advantage — my 
extensive  reading,  added  to  the  good  classical  education 
which  I  had  received.  It  is  not  often  in  society  that  an 
opportunity  occurs  when  any  one  can  prove  his  acquisi- 
tions ;  but  when  it  does  come,  they  always  make  an 
impression ;  and  thus  did  education  turn  the  scale  in  my 
favour,  and  every  one  was  much  more  inclined  to  believe 
the  false  rather  than  the  true  versions  of  my  history. 


398  Jacob  Faithful 


Chapter  XLIII 

The  Domine  proves  Stapleton's  "human  natur"  to  be  correct — the  red- 
coat proves  too  much  of  a  match  for  the  blue — Mary  sells  Tom,  and  Tom 
sells  what  is  left  of  him,  for  a  shilling — We  never  know  the  value  of 

anything  till  we  have  lost  it. 

I  HAD  often  ruminated  in  what  manner  I  could  render  the 
Domine  more  comfortable.  I  felt  that  to  him  I  was  as 
much  indebted  as  to  any  living  being,  and  one  day  I 
ventured  to  open  the  subject ;  but  his  reply  was  decided. 

"  I  see,  Jacob,  my  son,  what  thou  wouldst  wish :  but  it 
must  not  be.  Man  is  but  a  creature  of  habit :  habit 
becomes  to  him  not  only  necessity  but  luxury.  For  five- 
and-forty  years  have  I  toiled,  instilling  precepts  and 
forcing  knowledge  into  the  brains  of  those  who  have  never 
proved  so  apt  as  thou.  Truly,  it  hath  been  a  painful  task, 
yet  can  I  not  relinquish  it.  I  might,  at  one  time,  that  is, 
during  the  first  ten  years,  have  met  the  offer  with  grati- 
tude ;  for  I  felt  the  humiliation  and  annoyance  of  wearying 
myself  with  the  rudiments,  when  I  would  fain  have 
commented  upon  the  various  peculiarities  of  style  in  the 
ancient  Greek  and  Latin  authors ;  but  now,  all  that  has 
passed  away.  The  eternal  round  of  concord,  prosody  and 
syntax  has  charms  for  me  from  habit :  the  rule  of  three  is 
preferable  to  the  problems  of  Euclid,  and  even  the  Latin 
grammar  has  its  delights.  In  short,  I  have  a  hujus  pleasure 
in  hie,  hac,  hoc;  [cluck,  cluck]  and  even  the  flourishing  of 
the  twigs  of  that  tree  of  knowledge,  the  birch,  hath 
become  a  pleasurable  occupation  to  me,  if  not  to  those 
upon  whom  it  is  inflicted.  I  am  like  an  old  horse,  who 
hath  so  long  gone  round  and  round  in  a  mill,  that  he 
cannot  walk  straight  forward ;  and,  if  it  please  the 
Almighty,  I  will  die  in  harness.  Still  I  thank  thee,  Jacob ; 
and  thank  God  that  thou  hast  again  proved  the  goodness 
of  thy  heart,  and  given  me  one  more  reason  to  rejoice 
in  thee  and   in  thy  love  j   but    thine  offer,  if  accepted, 


Jacob  Faithful  399 

would  not  add  to  my  happiness ;  for  what  feeling  can 
be  more  consolatory  to  an  old  man  near  unto  his  grave 
than  the  reflection  that  his  life,  if  not  distinguished,  has 
at  least  been  useful  ? " 

I  had  not,  for  some  time,  received  a  visit  from  Tom; 
and,  surprised  at  this,  I  went  down  to  his  father's,  to  make 
inquiry  about  him.  I  found  the  old  couple  sitting  indoors ; 
the  weather  was  fine,  but  old  Tom  was  not  at  his  work ; 
even  the  old  woman's  netting  was  thrown  aside. 

"  Where  is  Tom  ? "  inquired  I,  after  wishing  them 
good  morning. 

"  Oh !  deary  me,"  cried  the  old  woman,  putting  her  apron 
up  to  her  eyes  ;  '*  that  wicked,  good-for-nothing  girl !  " 

"Good  heavens!  what  is  the  matter.'"'  inquired  I  of 
old  Tom. 

"  The  matter,  Jacob,"  replied  old  Tom,  stretching  out 
his  two  wooden  legs,  and  placing  his  hands  upon  his 
knees,  *'  is,  that  Tom  has  'listed  for  a  sodger." 

"  Listed  for  a  soldier  !  " 

**  Yes ;  that's  as  sartain  as  it's  true  j  and  wliat's  worse, 
I'm  told  the  regiment  is  ordered  to  the  West  Indies.  So, 
what  with  fever  o'  mind  and  yellow  fever,  he's  food  for 
the  land  crabs,  that's  sartain.  I  think  now,"  continued 
the  old  man,  brushing  a  tear  from  his  eye  with  his  fore- 
finger, **  that  I  see  his  bones  bleaching  under  the  palisades  j 
for  I  know  the  place  well." 

"  Don't  say  so,  Tom  ;  don't  say  so  !  " 

**  Oh,  Jacob !  beg  pardon  if  I'm  too  free  now ;  but 
can't  you  help  us  ? " 

*'  I  will  if  I  can,  depend  upon  it ;  but  tell  me  how  this 
happened." 

"  Why,  the  long  and  the  short  of  it  is  this ;  that  girl, 
Mary  Stapleton,  has  been  his  ruin.  When  he  first  came 
home  he  was  well  received,  and  looked  forward  to  being 
spliced  and  living  with  us ;  but  it  didn't  last  long.  She 
couldn't  leave  off  her  old  tricks ;  and  so,  that  Tom  might 
not  get  the  upper  hand,  she  plays  him  off  with  the  sergeant 
of  a  recruiting  party,  and  flies  ofi^  from  one  to  the  other, 


400  Jacob  Faithful 

just  like  the  ticker  of  the  old  clock  there  does  from  one 
side  to  the  other.  One  day  the  sergeant  was  the  fancy 
man,  and  the  next  day  it  was  Tom.  At  last,  Tom  gets 
out  of  patience,  and  wishes  to  come  to  a  fair  under- 
standing. So  he  axes  her  whether  she  chooses  to  have 
the  sergeant  or  to  have  him ;  she  might  take  her  choice, 
but  he  had  no  notion  of  being  played  with  in  that  way, 
after  all  her  letters  and  all  her  promises.  Upon  this  she 
huffs  outright,  and  tells  Tom  he  may  go  about  his 
business,  for  she  didn't   care  if  she  never  sees  him  no 

more.     So  Tom's  blood  was  up,  and  he  calls  her  a  d d 

jilt,  and,  in  my  opinion,  he  was  near  to  the  truth ;  so 
then  they  had  a  regular  breeze,  and  part  company.  Well, 
this  made  Tom  very  miserable,  and  the  next  day  he 
would  have  begged  her  pardon,  and  come  to  her  terms, 
for  you  see,  Jacob,  a  man  in  love  has  no  discretion ;  but 
she  being  still  angry,  tells  him  to  go  about  his  business, 
as  she  means  to  marry  the  sergeant  in  a  week.  Tom 
turns  away  again  quite  mad  ;  and  it  so  happens  that  he 
goes  into  the  public-house  where  the  sergeant  hangs  out, 
hoping  to  be  revenged  on  him,  and  meaning  to  have  a 
regular  set-to,  and  see  who  is  the  best  man ;  but  the 
sergeant  wasn't  there,  and  Tom  takes  pot  after  pot  to 
drive  away  care ;  and,  when  the  sergeant  returned,  Tom 
was  not  a  little  in  liquor.  Now,  the  sergeant  was  a 
knowing  chap,  and  when  he  comes  in,  and  perceives  Tom 
with  his  face  flushed,  he  guesses  what  was  to  come,  so, 
instead  of  saying  a  word,  he  goes  to  another  table,  and 
dashes  his  fist  upon  it,  as  if  in  a  passion.  Tom  goes  up 
to  him,  and  says,  *  Sergeant,  I've  known  that  girl  long 
before  you,  and  if  you  are  a  man,  you'll  stand  up  for  her.' 
'  Stand  up  for  her ;  yes,'  replied  the  sergeant,  *  and  so  I 
would  have  done  yesterday,  but  the  blasted  jilt  has  turned 
me  to  the  right  about  and  sent  me  away.  I  won't  fight 
now,  for  she  won't  have  me — any  more  than  she  will  you. 
Now  when  Tom  hears  this,  he  becomes  more  pacified 
with  the  sergeant,  and  they  set  down  like  two  people 
under   the   same   misfortune,    and    take   a   pot   together, 


Jacob  Faithful  401 

instead  of  fighting ;  and  then,  you  see,  the  sergeant  plies 
Tom  with  liquor,  swearing  that  he  will  go  back  to  the 
regiment,  and  leave  Mary  altogether,  and  advises  Tom 
to  do  the  same.  At  last,  what  with  the  sergeant's  per- 
suasions, and  Tom's  desire  to  vex  Mary,  he  succeeds  in 
'listing  him,  and  giving  him  the  shilling  before  witnesses  ; 
that  was  all  the  rascal  wanted.  The  next  day  Tom  was 
sent  down  to  the  depot,  as  they  call  it,  under  a  guard  ; 
and  the  sergeant  remains  here  to  follow  up  Mary,  without 
interruption.  This  only  happened  three  days  ago,  and 
we  only  were  told  of  it  yesterday  by  old  Stapleton,  who 
threatens  to  turn  his  daughter  out  of  doors." 

"  Can't  you  help  us,  Jacob  ? "  said  the  old  woman, 
whimpering. 

"  I  hope  I  can,  and  if  money  can  procure  his  discharge 
it  shall  be  obtained.  But  did  you  not  say  that  he  was 
ordered  to  the  West  Indies  ?  " 

**  The  regiment  is  in  the  West  Indies,  but  they  are 
recruiting  for  it,  so  many  have  been  carried  oif  by  the 
yellow  fever  last  sickly  season.  A  transport,  they  say, 
will  sail  next  week,  and  the  recruits  are  to  march  for 
embarkation  in  three  or  four  days." 

"  And  what  is  the  regiment,  and  where  is  the  depot  ? " 

"  It  is  the  47th  Fusileers,  and  the  depot  is  at  Maid- 
stone." 

"  I  will  lose  no  time,  my  good  friends,"  replied  I;  "  to- 
morrow I  will  go  to  Mr  Drummond,  and  consult  with 
him."  I  returned  the  grateful  squeeze  of  old  Tom's 
hand,  and,  followed  by  the  blessings  of  the  old  woman, 
I  hastened  away. 

As  I  pulled  up  the  river,  for  that  day  I  was  engaged  to 
dine  with  the  Wharncliffes,  I  resolved  to  call  upon  Mary 
Stapleton,  and  ascertain  by  her  deportment  whether  she 
had  become  that  heartless  jilt  which  she  was  represented, 
and  if  so,  to  persuade  Tom,  if  I  succeeded  in  obtaining  his 
discharge,  to  think  no  more  about  her.  I  felt  so  vexed 
and  angry  with  her,  that  after  I  landed,  I  walked  about 
a  few  minutes  before  I  went  to  the  house  that  I  might 
j.F.  2  c 


402  Jacob  Faithful 

recover  my  temper.  When  I  walked  up  the  stairs  I  found 
Mary  sitting  over  a  sheet  of  paper,  on  which  she  had  been 
writing.  She  looked  up  as  I  came  in,  and  I  perceived  that 
she  had  been  crying.  "  Mary,"  said  I,  "  how  well  you 
have  kept  the  promise  you  made  to  me  when  last  we  met ! 
See  what  trouble  and  sorrow  you  have  brought  upon 
all  parties  except  yourself." 

**  Except  myself; — no,  Mr  Faithful,  don't  except  myself, 
I  am  almost  mad — I  believe  that  I  am  mad — for  surely  such 
folly  as  mine  is  madness,"  and  Mary  wept  bitterly. 

"  There  is  no  excuse  for  your  behaviour,  Mary — it  is 
unpardonably  wicked.  Tom  sacrificed  all  for  your  sake — 
he  even  deserted,  and  desertion  is  death  by  the  law.  Now 
what  have  you  done  ? — taken  advantage  of  his  strong 
affection,  to  drive  him  to  intemperance,  and  induce  him,  in 
despair,  to  enlist  for  a  soldier.  He  sails  for  the  West 
Indies  to  fill  up  the  ranks  of  a  regiment  thinned  by  the 
yellow  fever,  and  will  perhaps  never  return  again — you  will 
then  have  been  the  occasion  of  his  death.  Mary,  I  have 
come  to  tell  you  that  I  despise  you." 

*'  I  despise  and  hate  myself,"  replied  Mary,  mournfully, 
"  I  wish  I  were  in  my  grave.  O,  Mr  Faithful,  do  for 
God's  sake — do  get  him  back.  You  can,  I  know  you  can 
— you  have  money  and  everything." 

"  If  I  do,  it  will  not  be  for  your  benefit,  Mary,  for  you 
shall  trifle  with  him  no  more.  I  will  not  try  for  his 
discharge  unless  he  faithfully  promises  never  to  speak  to 
you  again." 

"  You  don't  say  that — you  don't  mean  that !  "  cried 
Mary,  sweeping  the  hair  with  her  hand  back  from  her 
forehead, — and  her  hand  still  remaining  on  her  head — "  O 
God !  O  God !  what  a  wretch  I  am !  Hear  me,  Jacob, 
hear  me,"  cried  she,  dropping  on  her  knees,  and  seizing  my 
hands ;  "  only  get  him  his  discharge — only  let  me  once 
see  him  again,  and  I  swear  by  all  that's  sacred,  that  I  will 
beg  his  pardon  on  my  knees  as  I  now  do  yours.  I  will  do 
everything — anything — if  he  will  but  forgive  me,  for  I 
cannot,  will  not,  live  without  him." 


Jacob  Faithful  403 

"  If  this  is  true,  Mary,  what  madness  could  have  induced 
you  to  have  acted  as  you  have  ? " 

"  Yes,"  replied  Mary,  rising  from  her  knees,  "madness, 
indeed, — more  than  madness  to  treat  so  cruelly  one  for 
whom  I  only  care  to  live.  You  say  Tom  loves  me  ;  I 
know  he  does  ;  but  he  does  not  love  me  as  I  do  him.  O 
my  God !  my  heart  will  break  ! "  After  a  pause,  Mary 
resumed.  "  Read  what  I  have  written  to  him — I  have 
already  written  as  much  in  another  letter.  You  will  see 
that  if  he  cannot  get  away,  I  have  offered  to  go  out  with 
him  as  his  wife,  that  is,  if  he  will  have  such  a  foolish, 
wicked  girl  as  I  am." 

I  read  the  letter  :  it  was  as  she  said,  praying  forgiveness, 
offering  to  accompany  him,  and  humiliating  herself  as  much 
as  it  was  possible.  I  was  much  affected.  I  returned  the 
letter. 

"  You  can't  despise  me  so  much  as  I  despise  myself," 
continued  Mary ;  **  I  hate,  I  detest  myself  for  my  folly.  I 
recollect  now  how  you  used  to  caution  me  when  a  girl.  O 
mother,  mother,  it  was  a  cruel  legacy  you  left  to  your 
child,  when  you  gave  her  your  disposition.  Yet  why 
should  I  blame  her  ?     I  must  blame  myself." 

"  Well,  Mary,  I  will  do  all  I  can,  and  that  as  soon  as 
possible.     To-morrow  I  will  go  down  to  the  depot." 

"  God  bless  you,  Jacob ;  and  may  you  never  have  the 
misfortune  to  be  in  love  with  such  a  one  as  myself." 


Chapter   XLIV 

I  am  made  very  happy — In  other  respects  a  very  melancholy  chapter,  which, 
we  are  sorry  to  inform  the  reader,  will  be  followed  up  by  one  still  more  so. 

I  LEFT  Mary,  and  hastened  home  to  dress  for  dinner.  I 
mentioned  the  subject  of  wishing  to  obtain  Tom's  discharge 
to  Mr  Wharncliffe,  who  recommended  my  immediately 
applying  to  the  Horse  Guards ;  and,  as  he  was  acquainted 
with  those  in  office,  offered  to  accompany  me.     I  gladly 


404  Jacob  Faithful 

accepted  his  offer ;  and  the  next  morning  he  called  for  me 
in  his  carriage,  and  we  went  there.  Mr  Wharncliffe  sent 
up  his  card  to  one  of  the  secretaries,  and  we  were  im- 
mediately ushered  up,  when  I  stated  my  wishes.  The 
reply  was  :  "  If  you  had  time  to  procure  a  substitute  it 
would  easily  be  arranged ;  but  the  regiment  is  so  weak, 
and  the  aversion  to  the  West  Indies  so  prevalent  after 
this  last  very  sickly  season,  that  I  doubt  if  His  Royal 
Highness  would  permit  any  man  to  purchase  his  discharge. 
However,  we  will  see.  The  Duke  is  one  of  the  kindest- 
hearted  of  men,  and  I  will  lay  the  case  before  him.  But 
let  us  see  if  he  is  still  at  the  depot  j  I  rather  think  not." 
The  secretary  rang  the  bell. 

**  The  detachment  of  the  47th  Fusileers  from  the  depot 
— has  it  marched  ?     And  when  does  it  embark  ?  " 

The  clerk  went  out,  and  in  a  few  minutes  returned  with 
some  papers  in  his  hand.  "  It  marched  the  day  before 
yasterday,  and  was  to  embark  this  morning,  and  sail  as 
soon  as  the  wind  was  fair." 

My  heart  sank  at  this  intelligence. 

"  How  is  the  wind,  Mr  G ?     Go  down  and  look  at 

the  tell-tale." 

The  clerk  returned.  "E.N.E.,  sir,  and  has  been  steadily 
so  these  two  days." 

"  Then,"  replied  the  secretary,  "  I  am  afraid  you  are  too 
late  to  obtain  your  wish.  The  orders  to  the  port-admiral 
are  most  peremptory  to  expedite  the  sailing  of  the  trans- 
ports, and  a  frigate  has  been  now  three  weeks  waiting  to 
convoy  them.     Depend  upon  it,  they  have  sailed  to-day." 

"  What  can  be  done  ?  "  replied  I,  mournfully. 

**  You  must  apply  for  his  discharge,  and  procure  a 
substitute.  He  can  then  have  an  order  sent  out,  and  be 
permitted  to  return  home.  I  am  very  sorry,  as  I  perceive 
you  are  much  interested  5  but  I'm  afraid  it  is  too  late  now. 
However,  you  may  call  to-morrow.  The  weather  is  clear 
with  this  wind,  and  the  port-admiral  will  telegraph  to  the 
Admiralty  the  sailing  of  the  vessels.  Should  anything 
detain  them,  I  will  take  care  that  His   Royal  Highness 


Jacob  Faithful  405 

shall  be  acquainted  with  the  circumstances  this  afternoon, 
if  possible,  and  will  give  you  his  reply." 

We  thanked  the  secretary  for  his  politeness,  and  took 
our  leave.  Vexed  as  I  was  with  the  communications  I  had 
already  received,  I  was  much  more  so  when  one  of  the 
porters  ran  to  the  carriage  to  show  me,  by  the  secretary's 
order,  a  telegraphic  communication  from  the  Admiralty, 
containing  the  certain  and  unpleasant  information,  "Convoy 
to  West  Indies  sailed  this  morning." 

"  Then  it  is  all  over  for  the  present,"  said  I,  throw- 
ing myself  back  in  the  carriage ;  and  I  continued  in  a 
melancholy  humour  until  Mr  Wharncliffe,  who  had  busi- 
ness in  the  City,  put  me  down  as  near  as  the  carriage  went 
to  the  house  of  Mr  Drummond.  I  found  Sarah,  who  was 
the  depository  of  all  my  thoughts,  pains,  and  pleasures, 
and  I  communicated  to  her  this  episode  in  the  history  of 
young  Tom.  As  most  ladies  are  severe  judges  of  their 
own  sex,  she  was  very  strong  in  her  expressions  against 
the  conduct  of  Mary,  which  she  would  not  allow  to 
admit  of  any  palliation.  Even  her  penitence  had  no  weight 
with  her. 

"  And  yet,  how  often  is  it  the  case,  Sarah,  not  perhaps 
to  the  extent  carried  on  by  this  mistaken  girl ;  but  still, 
the  disappointment  is  as  great,  although  the  consequences 
are  not  so  calamitous.  Among  the  higher  classes,  how 
often  do  young  men  receive  encouragment,  and  yield  them- 
selves up  to  a  passion  to  end  only  in  disappointment !  It 
is  not  necessary  to  plight  troth ;  a  young  woman  may  not 
have  virtually  committed  herself,  and  yet,  by  merely 
appearing  pleased  with  the  conversation  and  company  of  a 
young  man,  induce  him  to  venture  his  affections  in  a 
treacherous  sea,  and  eventually  find  them  wrecked." 

"  You  are  very  nautically  poetical,  Jacob,"  replied  Sarah. 
"  Such  things  do  happen ;  but  I  think  that  women's 
affections  are,  to  use  your  phrase,  oftener  wrecked  than 
those  of  men.  That,  however,  does  not  exculpate  either 
party.  A  woman  must  be  blind,  indeed,  if  she  cannot 
perceive,  in  a  very  short  time,  whether  she  is  trifling  with 


4o6  Jacob  Faithful 

a  man's  feelings,  and  base,  indeed,   if  she  continues  to 
practise  upon  them." 

"  Sarah,"  replied  I,  and  I  stopped. 

"  Well  ? " 

"  I  was,"  replied  I,  stammering  a  little — "  I  was  going 
to  ask  you  if  you  were  blind." 

*'  As  to  what,  Jacob  ?"  said  Sarah,  colouring  up. 

"  As  to  my  feelings  towards  you." 

"  No ;  I  believe  you  like  me  very  well,"  replied  she, 
smiling. 

"  Do  you  think  that  that  is  all  ? " 

"  "Where  do  you  dine  to-day,  Jacob  ?  "  replied  Sarah. 

"  That  must  depend  upon  you  and  your  answer.  If  I 
dine  here  to-day,  I  trust  to  dine  here  often.  If  I  do  not 
dine  here  to-day,  probably  I  never  may  again.  I  wish  to 
know,  Sarah,  whether  you  have  been  blind  to  my  feelings 
towards  you ;  for,  with  the  case  of  Mary  and  Tom  before 
me,  I  feel  that  I  must  no  longer  trust  to  my  own  hopes, 
which  may  end  in  disappointment.  "Will  you  have  the 
kindness  to  put  me  out  of  my  misery  ?  " 

*'  If  I  have  been  blind  to  your  feelings,  I  have  not  been 
blind  to  your  merit,  Jacob.  Perhaps  I  have  not  been 
blind  to  your  feelings,  and  I  am  not  of  the  same  disposition 
as  Mary  Stapleton.  I  think  you  may  venture  to  dine  here 
to-day,"  continued  she,  colouring  and  smiling,  as  she 
turned  away  to  the  window. 

"I  can  hardly  believe  that  I'm  to  be  so  happy,  Sarah," 
replied  I,  agitated.  **I  have  been  fortunate,  very  fortunate; 
but  the  hopes  you  have  now  raised  are  so  much  beyond  my 
expectations — so  much  beyond  my  deserts — that  I  dare 
not  indulge  in  them.  Have  pity  on  me,  and  be  more 
explicit." 

"  What  do  you  wish  me  to  say?"  replied  Sarah,  looking 
down  upon  her  work,  as  she  turned  round  to  me. 

"  That  you  will  not  reject  the  orphan  who  was  fostered 
by  your  father  j  and  who  reminds  you  of  what  he  was, 
that  you  may  not  forget  at  this  moment  what  I  trust  is  the 
greatest  bar  to  his  presumption — his  humble  origin." 


Jacob  Faithful  407 

"  Jacob,  that  was  said  like  yourself — it  was  nobly  said  ; 
and  if  you  were  not  born  noble,  you  have  true  nobility  of 
mind.  I  will  imitate  your  example.  Have  I  not  often, 
during  our  long  friendship,  told  you  that  I  love  you  ? " 

"  Yes,  as  a  child  you  did,  Sarah." 

"  Then,  as  a  woman,  I  repeat  it.  And  now  are  you 
satisfied .'' " 

I  took  Sarah  by  the  hand :  she  did  not  withdraw  it,  but 
allowed  me  to  kiss  it  over  and  over  again. 

*'  But  your  father  and  mother,  Sarah  ?" 

"  Would  never  have  allowed  our  intimacy  if  they  had 
not  approved  of  it,  Jacob,  depend  upon  it.  However,  you 
may  make  yourself  easy  on  that  score,  by  letting  them 
know  what  has  passed ;  and  then,  I  presume,  you  will  be 
out  of  your  misery." 

Before  the  day  was  over  I  had  spoken  to  Mrs  Drummond, 
and  requested  her  to  open  the  business  to  her  husband,  as 
I  really  felt  it  more  than  I  could  dare  to  do.  She  smiled 
as  her  daughter  hung  upon  her  neck  ;  and  when  I  met  Mr 
Drummond  at  dinner-time  I  was  "  out  of  my  misery,"  for 
he  shook  me  by  the  hand,  and  said,  "  You  have  made  us 
all  very  happy,  Jacob  j  for  that  girl  appears  determined 
either  to  marry  you  or  not  to  marry  at  all.  Come  j  dinner 
is  ready." 

I  will  leave  the  reader  to  imagine  how  happy  I  was, 
what  passed  between  Sarah  and  me  in  our  tete-a-tete  of 
that  evening,  how  unwilling  I  was  to  quit  the  house,  and 
how  I  ordered  a  postchaise  to  carry  me  home,  because  I 
was  afraid  to  trust  myself  on  that  water  on  which  the 
major  part  of  my  life  had  been  safely  passed,  lest  any 
accident  should  happen  to  me  and  rob  me  of  my  anticipated 
bliss.  From  that  day,  I  was  as  one  of  the  family,  and, 
finding  the  distance  too  great,  took  up  my  abode  at  apart- 
ments contiguous  to  the  house  of  Mr  Drummond.  But 
the  course  of  other  people's  love  did  not  run  so  smooth, 
and,  I  must  now  return  to  Mary  Stapleton  and  Tom 
Beazeley. 

I  had  breakfasted,  and  was  just  about  to  take  my  wherry 


4o8  Jacob  Faithful 

and  go  down  to  acquaint  the  old  couple  with  the  bad 
success  of  my  application.  I  had  been  reflecting  with 
gratitude  upon  my  own  happiness  in  prospect,  indulging  in 
fond  anticipations,  and  then,  reverting  to  the  state  in  which 
I  had  left  Mary  Stapleton  and  Tom's  father  and  mother, 
contrasting  their  misery  with  my  joy,  arising  from  the 
same  source,  when,  who  should  rush  into  the  dining-room 
but  young  Tom,  dressed  in  nothing  but  a  shirt,  and  a  pair 
of  white  trousers,  covered  with  dust,  and  wan  with 
fatigue  and  excitement. 

"  Good  heavens !  Tom  !  are  you  back  ?  then  you  must 
have  deserted." 

"  Very  true,"  replied  Tom,  sinking  on  a  chair,  "I  swam 
on  shore  last  night,  and  have  made  from  Portsmouth  to 
here  since  eight  o'clock.  I  hardly  need  say  that  I  am  done 
up.     Let  me  have  something  to  drink,  Jacob,  pray." 

I  went  to  the  cellaret  and  brought  him  some  wine,  of 
which  he  drank  off  a  tumbler  eagerly.  During  this,  I  was 
revolving  in  my  mind  the  consequences  which  might  arise 
from  this  hasty  and  imprudent  step.  "  Tom,"  said  I,  "do 
you  know  the  consequences  of  desertion  ?  " 

"Yes,"  replied  he,  gloomily,  "  but  I  could  not  help  it  j 
Mary  told  me,  in  her  letter,  that  she  would  do  all  I  wished, 
would  accompany  me  abroad ;  she  made  all  the  amends 
she  could,  poor  girl !  and,  by  heavens,  I  could  not  leave 
her :  and  when  I  found  myself  fairly  under  weigh,  and 
there  was  no  chance,  I  was  almost  mad  j  the  wind  baffled 
us  at  the  Needles,  and  we  anchored  for  the  night ;  I 
slipped  down  the  cable  and  swam  on  shore,  and  there's 
the  whole  story." 

"  But,  Tom,  you  will  certainly  be  recognised  and  taken 
up  for  a  deserter." 

"  I  must  think  of  that,"  replied  Tom ;  "  I  know  the  risk 
that  I  run  ;  but,  perhaps,  if  you  obtain  my  discharge,  they 
may  let  me  off." 

I  thought  this  was  the  best  plan  to  proceed  upon,  and 
requesting  Tom  to  keep  quiet,  I  went  to  consult  with  Mr 
WharnclifFe.     He  agreed  with  me,  that  it  was  Tom's  only 


Jacob  Faithful  409 

chance,  and  I  pulled  to  his  father's,  to  let  them  know  what 
had  occurred,  and  then  went  on  to  the  Drummonds.  When 
I  returned  home  late  in  the  evening,  the  gardener  told  me 
that  Tom  had  gone  out,  and  had  not  returned.  My  heart 
misgave  me  that  he  had  gone  to  see  Mary,  and  that  some 
misfortune  had  occurred,  and  I  went  to  bed  with  most 
anxious  feelings.  My  forebodings  were  proved  to  be 
correct,  for  the  next  morning  I  was  informed  that  old 
Stapleton  wished  to  see  me.  He  was  ushered  in,  and  as 
soon  as  he  entered,  he  exclaimed,  "  All's  up,  Master  Jacob 
— Tom's  nabbed — Mary  fit  after  fit — human  naturP 

"Why,  what  is  the  matter,  Stapleton  ?" 

"Why,  it's  just  this — Tom  desarts  to  come  to  Mary. 
Cause  why  ? — he  loves  her — human  natur.  That  soldier 
chap  comes  in  and  sees  Tom,  clutches  hold,  and  tries  to 
take  possession  of  him.  Tom  fights,  knocks  out  sergeant's 
starboard  eye,  and  tries  to  escape — human  natur.  Soldiers 
come  in,  pick  up  sergeant,  seize  Tom,  and  carry  him  off. 
Mary  cries,  and  screams,  and  faints — human  natur — poor 
girl  can't  keep  her  head  up — two  women  with  burnt 
feathers  all  night.  Sad  job.  Mister  Jacob.  Of  all  the 
senses  love's  the  worst,  that's  sartain — quite  upset  me, 
can't  smoke  my  pipe  this  morning — Mary's  tears  quite  put 
my  pipe  out " — and  old  Stapleton  looked  as  if  he  was  ready 
to  cry  himself. 

"This  is  a  sad  business,  Stapleton,"  replied  I.  "Tom 
will  be  tried  for  desertion,  and  God  knows  how  it  will  end. 
I  will  try  all  I  can  ;  but  they  have  been  very  strict  lately." 

"Hope  you  will.  Mister  Jacob.  Mary  will  die,  that's 
sartain.  I'm  more  afraid  that  Tom  will.  If  one  does, 
t'other  will.  I  know  the  girl — just  like  her  mother,  never 
could  carry  her  helm  amidships,  hard  a  port  or  hard  a 
starboard.  She's  mad  now  to  follow  him — will  go  to 
Maidstone.  I  take  her  as  soon  as  I  go  back  to  her.  Just 
come  up  to  tell  you  all  about  it." 

"  This  is  a  gloomy  affair,  Stapleton." 

"  Yes,  for  sartain — wish  there  never  was  such  a  thing 
as  human  natur ^"^ 


4IO  Jacob  Faithful 

After  a  little  conversation,  and  a  supply  of  money, 
which  I  knew  would  be  acceptable,  Stapleton  went  away 
leaving  me  in  no  very  happy  state  of  mind.  My  regard 
for  Tom  was  excessive,  and  his  situation  one  of  peculiar 
danger.  Again  I  repaired  to  Mr  WharnclifFe  for  advice, 
and  he  readily  interested  himself  most  warmly. 

**  This  is,  indeed,  an  awkward  business,"  said  he,  "  and 
will  require  more  interest  than  I  am  afraid  that  I  command. 
If  not  condemned  to  death,  he  will  be  sentenced  to  such 
a  flogging  as  will  break  him  down  in  spirit  as  well  as  in 
body,  and  sink  him  into  an  early  grave.  Death  were 
preferable  of  the  two.  Lose  no  time,  Mr  Faithful,  in 
going  down  to  Maidstone,  and  seeing  the  colonel  com- 
manding the  depot.  I  will  go  to  the  Horse  Guards,  and 
see  what  is  to  be  done." 

I  wrote  a  hurried  note  to  Sarah  to  account  for  my 
absence,  and  sent  for  post  horses.  Early  in  the  afternoon 
I  arrived  at  Maidstone,  and  finding  out  the  residence  of 
the  officer  commanding  the  depot,  sent  up  my  card.  In 
few  words  I  stated  to  him  the  reason  of  my  calling  upon 
him. 

"  It  will  rest  altogether  with  the  Horse  Guards,  Mr 
Faithful,  and  I  am  afraid  I  can  give  you  but  little  hope. 
His  Royal  Highness  has  expressed  his  determination  to 
punish  the  next  deserter  with  the  utmost  severity  of  the 
law.  His  leniency  on  that  point  has  been  very  injurious 
to  the  service,  and  he  must  do  it.  Besides,  there  is  an 
aggravation  of  the  offence  in  his  attack  upon  the  sergeant, 
who  has  irrecoverably  lost  his  eye." 

"  The  sergeant  first  made  him  drunk,  and  then  per- 
suaded him  to  enlist."  I  then  stated  the  rivalship  that 
subsisted  between  them,  and  continued,  "  Is  it  not  dis- 
graceful to  enlist  men  in  that  way — can  that  be  called 
voluntary  service  ? " 

**  All  very  true,"  replied  the  officer,  "  but  still  ex- 
pediency winks  at  even  more.  I  do  not  attempt  to  defend 
the  system,  but  we  must  have  soldiers.  The  seamen  are 
impressed  by  force,  the  soldiers  are  entrapped  by  other 


Jacob  Faithful  411 

means,  even  more  discreditable  ;  the  only  excuse  is  ex- 
pediency, or,  if  you  like  it  better,  necessity.  All  I  can 
promise  you,  sir,  is,  what  I  would  have  done  even  if  you 
had  not  appealed  to  me,  to  allow  the  prisoner  every 
comfort  which  his  situation  will  permit,  and  every  advan- 
tage at  his  court-martial,  which  mercy,  tempered  by 
justice,  will  warrant." 

"  I  thank  you,  sir ;  will  you  allow  me  and  his  betrothed 
to  see  him  ? " 

*'  Most  certainly ;  the  order  shall  be  given  forthwith." 
I   thanked   the  officer  for  his  kindness,  and  took  my 
leave. 


Chapter  XLV 

Read  it. 

I  HASTENED  to  the  black  hole  where  Tom  was  confined, 
and  the  order  for  my  admission  having  arrived  before  me, 
I  was  permitted  by  the  sergeant  of  the  guard  to  pass  the 
sentry.  I  found  Tom  sitting  on  a  bench  notching  a  stick 
with  his  knife,  whistling  a  slow  tune. 

"  This  is  kind,  Jacob,  but  not  more  than  I  expected  of 
you— ^I  made  sure  that  I  should  see  you  to-night  or  to- 
morrow morning.  How's  poor  Mary  ?  I  care  only  for 
her  now — I  am  satisfied — she  loves  me  and — I  knocked 
out  the  sergeant's  eye — spoilt  his  wooing,  at  all  events." 

"  But,  Tom,  are  you  aware  of  the  danger  in  which  you 
are?" 

"  Yes,  Jacob,  perfectly ;  I  shall  be  tried  by  a  court- 
martial  and  shot.  I've  made  up  my  mind  to  it — at  all 
events,  it's  better  than  being  hung  hke  a  dog,  or  being 
flogged  to  death  like  a  nigger.  I  shall  die  like  a  gentle- 
man, if  I  have  never  been  one  before,  that's  some  comfort. 
Nay,  I  shall  go  out  of  the  world  with  as  much  noise 
as  if  a  battle  had  been  fought,  or  a  great  man  had 
died." 


412  Jacob  Faithful 

"  How  do  you  mean  ? " 

"Why  there'll  be  more  than  one  bullet-in.^* 

"  This  is  no  time  for  jesting,  Tom." 

"  Not  for  you,  Jacob,  as  a  sincere  friend,  I  grant  \  not 
for  poor  Mary,  as  a  devoted  girl ;  not  for  my  poor  father 
and  mother — no,  no,"  continued  Tom.  "  I  feel  for  them, 
but  for  myself  I  neither  fear  nor  care.  I  have  not  done 
wrong — I  was  pressed  against  the  law  and  act  of  parlia- 
ment, and  I  deserted.  I  was  enlisted  when  I  was  drunk 
and  mad,  and  I  deserted.  There  is  no  disgrace  to  me  ; 
the  disgrace  is  to  the  government,  which  suffers  such  acts. 
If  I  am  to  be  a  victim,  well  and  good — we  can  only  die 
once." 

"  Very  true,  Tom  j  but  you  are  young  to  die,  and  we 
must  hope  for  the  best." 

"  I  have  given  up  all  hope,  Jacob.  I  know  the  law  will 
be  put  in  force.  I  shall  die  and  go  to  another  and  a  better 
world,  as  the  parson  says,  where,  at  all  events,  there  will 
be  no  muskets  to  clean,  no  drill,  and  none  of  your  con- 
founded pipe-clay,  which  has  almost  driven  me  mad.  I 
should  like  to  die  in  a  blue  jacket — in  a  red  coat  I  will  not, 
so  I  presume  I  shall  go  out  of  the  world  in  my  shirt,  and 
that's  more  than  I  had  when  I  came  in." 

"  Mary  and  her  father  are  coming  down  to  you,  Tom." 

**  I'm  sorry  for  that,  Jacob ;  it  would  be  cruel  not  to  see 
her — but  she  blames  herself  so  much  that  I  cannot  bear  to 
read  her  letters.  But,  Jacob,  I  will  see  her,  to  try  if  I 
can  comfort  her — but  she  must  not  stay  ;  she  must  go 
back  again  till  after  the  court-martial,  and  the  sentence, 
and  then — if  she  wishes  to  take  her  farewell,  I  suppose  I 
must  not  refuse."  A  few  tears  dropped  from  his  eyes  as 
he  said  this.  "Jacob,  will  you  wait  and  take  her  back 
to  town  ? — she  must  not  stay  here — and  I  will  not  see 
my  father  and  mother  until  the  last.  Let  us  make  one  job 
of  it,  and  then  all  will  be  over." 

As  Tom  said  this,  the  door  of  the  cell  again  opened, 
and  Stapleton  supported  in  his  daughter.  Mary  tottered 
to  where  Tom  stood,  and  fell  into  his  arms  in  a  fit  of 


Jacob  Faithful  413 

convulsions.  It  was  necessary  to  remove  her,  and  she  was 
carried  out.  "  Let  her  not  come  in  again,  I  beseech  you, 
Jacob  ;  take  her  back,  and  I  will  bless  you  for  your  kind- 
ness. Wish  me  farewell  now,  and  see  that  she  does  not 
come  again."  Tom  wrung  me  by  the  hand,  and  turned 
away  to  conceal  his  distress.  I  nodded  my  head  in  assent, 
for  I  could  not  speak  for  emotion,  and  followed  Stapleton 
and  the  soldiers  who  had  taken  Mary  out.  As  soon  as 
she  was  recovered  sufficiently  to  require  no  further  medical 
aid,  I  lifted  her  into  the  postchaise,  and  ordered  the  boys 
to  drive  back  to  Brentford.  Mary  continued  in  a  state  of 
stupor  during  the  journey  ;  and  when  I  arrived  at  my  own 
house,  I  gave  her  into  the  charge  of  the  gardener's  wife, 
and  despatched  her  husband  for  medical  assistance.  The 
application  of  Mr  Wharncliffe  was  of  little  avail,  and  he 
returned  to  me  with  disappointment  in  his  countenance. 
The  whole  of  the  next  week  was  the  most  distressing 
that  I  ever  passed  j  arising  from  my  anxiety  for  Tom,  my 
daily  exertions  to  reason  Mary  into  some  degree  of  sub- 
mission to  the  will  of  Providence — her  accusations  of 
herself  and  her  own  folly — her  incoherent  ravings,  calling 
herself  Tom's  murderer,  which  alarmed  me  for  her  reason ; 
the  distress  of  old  Tom  and  his  wife,  who,  unable  to 
remain  in  their  solitude,  came  all  to  me  for  intelligence, 
for  comfort,  and  for  what,  alas  !  I  dare  not  give  them — 
hope.  All  this,  added  to  my  separation  from  Sarah, 
during  my  attendance  to  what  I  considered  my  duty, 
reduced  me  to  a  debility,  arising  from  mental  exertion, 
which  changed  me  to  almost  a  skeleton. 

At  last,  the  court-martial  was  held,  and  Tom  was 
condemned  to  death.  The  sentence  was  approved  of, 
and  we  were  told  that  all  appeals  would  be  unavailing. 
We  received  the  news  on  the  Saturday  evening,  and  Tom 
was  to  suffer  on  the  Tuesday  morning.  I  could  no  longer 
refuse  the  appeals  of  Mary  ;  indeed,  I  received  a  letter  from 
Tom,  requesting  that  all  of  us,  the  Domine  included, 
would  come  down  and  bid  him  farewell.  I  hired  a  carriage 
for  old  Tom,  his  wife,  Stapleton,  and  Mary,  and  putting 


414  Jacob  Faithful 

the  Domine  and  myself  in  my  own  chariot,  we  set  off  early 
on  the  Sunday  morning  for  Maidstone.  We  arrived  about 
eleven  o'clock,  and  put  up  at  an  inn  close  to  the  barracks. 
It  was  arranged  that  the  Domine  and  I  should  see  Tom 
first,  then  his  father  and  mother,  and,  lastly,  Mary 
Stapleton. 

"  Verily,"  said  the  Domine,  "  my  heart  is  heavy,  ex- 
ceeding heavy  ;  my  soul  yearneth  after  the  poor  lad,  who 
is  thus  to  lose  his  life  for  a  woman — a  woman  from  whose 
toils  I  did  myself  escape.  Yet  is  she  exceeding  fair  and 
comely,  and  now  that  it  is  unavailing,  appeareth  to  be 
penitent." 

I  made  no  reply  j  we  had  arrived  at  the  gate  of  the 
barracks.  I  requested  to  be  admitted  to  the  prisoner, 
and  the  doors  were  unbarred.  Tom  was  dressed  with 
great  care  and  cleanliness — in  white  trousers  and  shirt  and 
waistcoat,  but  his  coat  lay  on  the  table  ;  he  would  not  put 
it  on.  He  extended  his  hand  towards  me  with  a  faint 
smile. 

"  It's  all  over  now,  Jacob  ;  and  there  is  no  hope,  that  I 
am  aware  of,  and  have  made  up  my  mind  to  die  ;  but  I 
wish  these  last  farewells  were  over,  for  they  unman 
me.  I  hope  you  are  well,  sir,"  continued  Tom,  to  the 
Domine. 

"  Nay,  my  poor  boy,  I  am  as  well  as  age  and  infirmity 
will  permit,  and  why  should  I  complain  when  I  see  youth, 
health,  and  strength,  about  to  be  sacrificed  ;  and  many  made 
miserable,  when  many  might  be  made  so  happy  ?  "  And 
the  Domine  blew  his  nose,  the  trumpet  sound  of  which  re- 
echoed through  the  cell,  so  as  to  induce  the  sentry  to  look 
through  the  bars. 

*•  They  are  all  here,  Tom,"  said  I.  **  Would  you  like 
to  see  them  now  ? " 

*'  Yes ;  the  sooner  it  is  over  the  better." 

"Will  you  see  your  father  and  mother  first?'* 

"  Yes,"  replied  Tom,  in  a  faltering  tone. 

I  went  out,  and  returned  with  the  old  woman  on  my  arm, 
followed  by  old   Tom,  who  stumped   after  me  with  the 


Jacob  Faithful  415 

assistance  of  his  stick.  Poor  old  Mrs  Beazely  fell  on  her 
son's  neck,  sobbing  convulsively. 

"  My  boy — my  boy — my  dear,  dear  boy  !  "  said  she  at 
last,  and  she  looked  up  stedfastly  in  his  face.  "  My  God  ! 
he'll  be  dead  to-morrow  !  " 

Her  head  again  sank  on  his  shoulder,  and  her  sobs  were 
choking  her.  Tom  kissed  his  mother's  forehead  as  the 
tears  coursed  down  his  cheeks,  and  motioned  me  to  take  her 
away.  I  placed  her  down  on  the  floor,  where  she  remained 
silent,  moving  her  head  up  and  down  with  a  slow  motion, 
her  face  buried  in  her  shawl.  It  was  but  now  and  then 
that  you  heard  a  convulsive  drawing  of  her  breath.  Old 
Tom  had  remained  a  silent  but  agitated  spectator  of  the 
scene.  Every  muscle  in  his  weather-beaten  countenance 
twitched  convulsively,  and  the  tears  at  last  forced  their  way 
through  the  deep  furrows  on  his  cheeks.  Tom,  as  soon  as 
his  mother  was  removed,  took  his  father  by  the  hand,  and 
they  sat  down  together. 

"  You  are  not  angry  with  me,  father,  for  deserting  ? " 

"  No,  my  boy,  no.  I  was  angry  with  you  for  'listing, 
but  not  for  deserting.  What  business  had  you  with  the 
pipe-clay  ?  But  I  do  think  I  have  reason  to  be  angry  else- 
where, when  I  reflect  that  after  having  lost  my  two  legs  in 
defending  her,  my  country  is  now  to  take  from  me  my  boy 
in  his  prime.  It's  but  a  poor  reward  for  long  and  hard 
service — poor  encouragement  to  do  your  duty  j  but  what 
do  they  care  ?  they  have  had  my  sarvices  and  they  have 
left  me  a  hulk.      Well,  they  may  take  the  rest  of  me, 

if  they  please,  now  that  they Well,  it's  no  use  crying  5 

what's  done  can't  be  helped,"  continued  old  Tom,  as  the 
tears  ran  down  in  torrents ;  *'  they  may  shoot  you,  Tom  ; 
but  this  I  know  well,  you'll  die  game,  and  shame  them  by 
proving  to  them  they  have  deprived  themselves  of  the 
sarvices  of  a  good  man  when  good  men  are  needed.  I  would 
not  have  so  much  cared,"  continued  old  Tom,  after  a  pause 
— "  (look  to  the  old  woman,  Jacob,  she's  tumbling  over  to 
port) — if  you  had  fallen  on  board  a  king's  ship,  in  a  good 
frigate  action  j   some  must   be  killed   when  there's   hard 


41 6  Jacob  Faithful 

fighting  ;  but  to  be  drilled  through  by  your  own  country- 
men, to  die  by  their  hands,  and,  worst  of  all,  to  die  in  a  red 
coat,  instead  of  a  true  blue " 

*'  Father,  I  will  not  die  in  a  red  coat — I  won't  put  it  on." 

**  That's  some  comfort,  Tom,  anyhow,  and  comfort's 
wanted." 

"  And  I'll  die  like  a  man,  father." 

"  That  you  will,  Tom,  and  that's  some  comfort." 

"  We  shall  meet  again,  father." 

"  Hope  so,  Tom,  in  heaven — that's  some  comfort." 

"  And  now,  father,  bless  me,  and  take  care  of  my  poor 
mother." 

**  Bless  you,  Tom,  bless  you  ! "  cried  the  old  man,  in  a 
suffocating  voice,  extending  both  his  hands  towards  Tom, 
as  they  rose  up ;  but  the  equilibrium  was  no  longer  to  be 
maintained,  and  he  reeled  back  in  the  arms  of  me  and  Tom. 
We  lowered  him  gently  down  by  the  side  of  his  wife ;  the 
old  couple  turned  to  each  other,  and  embracing,  remained 
sobbing  in  each  other's  arms. 

"  Jacob,"  said  Tom,  squeezing  me  by  the  hand,  with  a 
quivering  lip,  "  by  your  regard  for  me,  let  now  the  last 
scene  be  got  over — let  me  see  Mary,  and  let  this  tortured 
heart  once  more  be  permitted  a  respite."  I  sent  out  the 
Domine.  Tom  leant  against  the  wall,  with  his  arms  folded, 
in  appearance  summoning  up  all  his  energy  for  the  painful 
meeting.  Mary  was  led  in  by  her  father.  I  expected  she 
would  have  swooned  away,  as  before  ;  but,  on  the  contrary, 
although  she  was  pale  as  death,  and  gasping  for  breath, 
from  intensity  of  feeling,  she  walked  up  to  Tom  where  he 
was  standing,  and  sat  down  on  the  form  close  to  him.  She 
looked  anxiously  round  upon  the  group,  and  then  said,  "  I 
know  that  all  I  now  say  is  useless,  Tom ;  but  still  I  must 
say  it — it  is  I  who,  by  my  folly,  have  occasioned  all  this 
distress  and  misery — it  is  I  who  have  caused  you  to  suffer 
a — dreadful  death — yes,  Tom,  I  am  your  murderer." 

"  Not  so,  Mary,  the  folly  was  my  own,"  replied  Tom, 
taking  her  hand. 

**  You  cannot  disguise  or  palliate  to  me,  dearest  Tom," 


Jacob  Faithful  417 

replied  Mary ;  "  my  eyes  have  been  opened,  too  late  it  is 
true,  but  they  have  been  opened ;  and  although  it  is  kind 
of  you  to  say  so,  I  feel  the  horrid  conviction  of  my  own 
guilt.  See  what  misery  I  have  brought  about.  There  is 
a  father  who  has  sacrificed  his  youth  and  his  limbs  to  his 
country,  sobbing  in  the  arms  of  a  mother  whose  life  is 
bound  up  with  that  of  her  only  son.  To  them,"  continued 
Mary,  falling  down  upon  her  knees,  **  to  them  I  must 
kneel  for  pardon,  and  I  ask  it  as  they  hope  to  be  forgiven. 
Answer  me — oh !  answer  me !  can  you  forgive  a  wretch 
like  me  ? " 

A  pause  ensued.  I  went  up  to  old  Tom,  and  kneeling 
by  his  side,  begged  him  to  answer. 

"  Forgive  her,  poor  thing — yes ;  who  could  refuse  it,  as 
she  kneels  there  ?  Come,"  continued  he,  speaking  to  his 
wife,  "  you  must  forgive  her.  Look  up,  dame,  at  her,  and 
think  that  our  poor  boy  may  be  asking  the  same  of  heaven 
to-morrow  at  noon." 

The  old  woman  looked  up,  and  her  dimmed  eyes  caught 
a  sight  of  Mary's  imploring  and  beautiful  attitude ;  it  was 
not  to  be  withstood. 

"  As  I  hope  for  mercy  to  my  poor  boy,  whom  you  have 
killed,  so  do  I  forgive  you,  unhappy  young  woman." 

"  May  God  reward  you,  when  you  are  summoned  before 
Him,"  replied  Mary.  "  It  was  the  hardest  task  of  all.  Of 
you,  Jacob,  I  have  to  ask  forgiveness  for  depriving  you  of 
your  early  and  truest  friend — yes,  and  for  much  more.  Of 
you,  sir,"  addressing  the  Domine,  "  for  my  conduct  towards 
you,  which  was  cruel  and  indefensible, — will  you  forgive 
me  ? " 

"  Yes,  Mary,  from  my  heart,  I  do  forgive  you,"  replied  I. 

"  Bless  thee,  maiden,  bless  thee !  "  sobbed  the  Domine. 

"  Father,  I  must  ask  of  you  the  same — I  have  been  a 
wilful  child, — forgive  me  !  " 

"  Yes,  Mary ;  you  could  not  help  it,"  replied  old 
Stapleton,  blubbering,  *'  it  was  all  human  natur." 

**  And  now,"  said  Mary,  turning  round  on  her  knees 
to  Tom,  with  a  look  expressive   of  anguish   and  love, 

J.F.  2  D 


41 8  Jacob  Faithful 

"  to  you,  Tom,  must  be  my  last  appeal.  I  know  you 
will  forgive  me — I  know  you  have — and  this  knowledge 
of  your  fervent  love  makes  the  thought  more  bitter  that 
I  have  caused  your  death.  But  hear  me,  Tom,  and  all 
of  you  hear  me.  I  never  loved  but  you ;  I  have  liked 
others  much ;  I  liked  Jacob ;  but  you  only  ever  did 
make  me  feel  I  had  a  heart ;  and  alas,  you  only  have  I 
sacrificed.  When  led  away  by  my  folly  to  give  you 
pain,  I  suffered  more  than  you — for  you  have  had  my 
only,  you  shall  have  my  eternal  and  unceasing,  love.  To 
your  memory  I  am  hereafter  wedded,  to  join  you  will  be 
my  only  wish — and  if  there  could  be  a  boon  granted  me 
from  heaven,  it  would  be  to  die  with  you,  Tom — yes,  in 
those  dear  arms." 

Mary  held  out  her  arms  to  Tom,  who  falling  down  on 
his  knees,  embraced  her,  and  thus  they  remained  with 
their  faces  buried  in  each  other's  shoulders.  The  whole 
scene  was  now  at  its  climax ;  it  was  too  oppressive,  and 
I  felt  faint,  when  I  was  aroused  by  the  voice  of  the 
Domine,  who,  lifting  up  both  his  arms,  and  extending 
them  forth,  solemnly  prayed,  '*  O  Lord,  look  down  upon 
these  Thy  servants,  in  affliction ;  grant  to  those  who  are 
to  continue  in  their  pilgrimage  strength  to  bear  Thy 
chastening — grant  to  him  who  is  to  be  summoned  to 
Thee,  that  happiness  which  the  world  cannot  give;  and 
O  God  most  mighty,  God  most  powerful,  lay  not  upon 
us  burdens  greater  than  we  can  bear. — My  children,  let 
us  pray." 

The  Domine  knelt  down,  and  repeated  the  Lord's 
prayer;  all  followed  his  example,  and  then  there  was 
a  pause. 

"  Stapleton,"  said  I,  pointing  to  Mary.  I  beckoned  to 
the  Domine.  We  assisted  up  old  Tom,  and  then  his 
wife,  and  led  them  away ;  the  poor  old  woman  was  in 
a  state  of  stupefaction,  and  until  she  was  out  in  the  air 
was  not  aware  that  she  had  quitted  her  son.  Stapleton 
had  attempted  to  detach  Mary  from  Tom,  but  in  vain; 
they  were  locked  together  as  if  in  death.     At  last  Tom, 


Jacob  Faithful  419 

roused  by  me,  suffered  his  hold  to  be  loosened,  and  Mary 
was  taken  out  in  a  happy  state  of  insensibility,  and  carried 
to  the  inn  by  her  father  and  the  Domine. 

**  Are  they  all  gone  ? "  whispered  Tom  to  me,  as  his 
head  reclined  on  my  shoulder. 

"  All,  Tom." 

"  Then  the  bitterness  of  death  is  passed ;  God  have 
mercy  on  them,  and  assuage  their  anguish ;  they  want 
His  help  more  than  I  do." 

A  passionate  flood  of  tears,  which  lasted  some  minutes, 
relieved  the  poor  fellow;  he  raised  himself,  and  drying 
his  eyes,  became  more  composed. 

**  Jacob,  I  hardly  need  tell  my  dying  request,  to  watch 
over  my  poor  father  and  mother,  to  comfort  poor  Mary — 
God  bless  you,  Jacob  !  you  have  indeed  been  a  faithful 
friend,  and  may  God  reward  you.  And  now,  Jacob, 
leave  me ;  I  must  commune  with  my  God,  and  pray 
for  forgiveness.  The  space  between  me  and  eternity 
is  but  short." 

Tom  threw  himself  into  my  arms,  where  he  remained 
for  some  minutes  j  he  then  broke  gently  away,  and 
pointed  to  the  door.  I  once  more  took  his  hand,  and 
we  parted. 


Chapter   XLVI 

In  which,  as  usual  in  the  last  chapter  of  a  work,  everything  is  wound  up 
much  to  the  reader's  satisfaction,  and  not  a  little  to  the  author's,  who 
lays  down  his  pen,  exclaiming,  "Thank  God  1 " 

I  WENT  back  to  the  inn,  and  ordering  the  horses  to  be  put 
to,  I  explained  to  all  but  Mary  the  propriety  of  their  now 
returning  home.  Mary  was  lifted  in,  and  it  was  a  relief 
to  my  mind  to  see  them  all  depart.  As  for  myself,  I 
resolved  to  remain  until  the  last ;  but  I  was  in  a  state  of 
feverish  agitation,  which  made  me  restless.  As  I  paced 
up  and  down  the  room,  the  newspaper  caught  my  eye. 


42  o  Jacob  Faithful 

I  laid  hold  of  it  mechanically,  and  looked  at  it.  A 
paragraph  rivetted  my  attention.  "  His  Majesty's  ship 
Immortalite,  Chatham,  to  be  paid  off."  Then  our  ship 
has  come  home.  But  what  was  that  now  .»*  Yet  some- 
thing whispered  to  me  that  I  ought  to  go  and  see  Captain 
Maclean,  and  try  if  anything  could  be  done.  I  knew 
his  commanding  interest,  and  although  it  was  now  too 
late,  still  I  had  an  impulse  to  go  and  see  him,  which  I 
could  not  resist.  "  After  all,"  said  I  to  myself,  "  I'm 
of  no  use  here,  and  I  may  as  well  go."  This  feeling, 
added  to  my  restlessness,  induced  me  to  order  horses, 
and  I  went  to  Chatham,  found  out  that  Captain  Maclean 
was  still  on  board,  and  took  boat  off  to  the  frigate. 
I  was  recognised  by  the  officers,  who  were  glad  to  see 
me,  and  I  sent  a  message  to  the  captain,  who  was  below, 
requesting  to  see  hipi.  I  was  asked  into  the  cabin,  and 
stated  to  him  what  had  occurred,  requesting  his  assistance, 
if  possible. 

"  Faithful,"  replied  he,  '*  it  appears  that  Tom  Beazeley 
has  deserted  twice  j  still  there  is  much  extenuation  :  at 
all  events,  the  punishment  of  death  is  too  severe,  and  I 
don't  like  it — I  can  save  him,  and  I  will.  By  the  rule 
of  the  services,  a  deserter  from  one  service  can  be  clained 
from  the  other,  and  must  be  tried  by  his  officers.  His 
sentence  is,  therefore,  not  legal.  I  shall  send  a  party  of 
marines,  and  claim  him  as  a  deserter  from  the  Navy,  and 
they  must  and  shall  give  him  up — make  yourself  easy, 
Faithful,  his  life  is  as  safe  as  yours." 

I  could  have  fallen  on  my  knees  and  thanked  him, 
though  I  could  hardly  believe  that  such  good  news  was 
true. 

"  There  is  no  time  to  lose,  sir,"  replied  I,  respectfully : 
"he  is  to  be  shot  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock." 

"  He  will  be  on  board  here  to-morrow,  at  nine  o'clock, 
or  I  am  not  Captain  Maclean.  But,  as  you  say,  there  is 
no  time  to  lose.  It  is  now  nearly  dark,  and  the  party 
must  be  off  immediately.  I  must  write  a  letter  on  service 
to  the  commandiug  officer  of  the  depot.     Call  my  clerk." 


Jacob  Faithful  421 

I  ran  out  and  called  the  clerk.  In  a  few  minutes  the 
letter  was  written,  and  a  party  of  marines,  with  the 
second  lieutenant,  despatched  with  me  on  shore.  I 
ordered  post-chaises  for  the  whole  party,  and  before 
eleven  we  were  at  Maidstone.  The  lieutenant  and  I  sat 
up  all  night,  and,  at  daylight,  we  summoned  the  marines 
and  went  to  the  barracks,  where  we  found  the  awful  note 
of  preparation  going  forward,  and  the  commanding  officer 
up  and  attending  to  the  arrangements.  I  introduced  the 
lieutenant,  who  presented  the  letter  on  service. 

"  Good  heavens  ;  how  fortunate  !  You  can  establish 
his  identity,  I  presume." 

"  Every  man  here  can  swear  to  him." 

"'Tis  sufficient,  Mr  Faithful.  I  wish  you  and  your 
friend  joy  of  this  reprieve.  The  rules  of  the  service  must 
be  obeyed,  and  you  will  sign  a  receipt  for  the  prisoner." 

This  was  done  by  the  lieutenant,  and  the  provost 
marshal  was  ordered  to  deliver  up  the  prisoner.  I 
hastened  with  the  marines  into  the  cell :  the  door  was 
unlocked.  Tom,  who  was  reading  his  Bible,  started  up, 
and  perceiving  the  red  jackets,  thought  that  he  was  to  be 
led  out  to  execution. 

*'  My  lads,"  exclaimed  he,  "  I  am  ready :  the  sooner 
this  is  over  the  better." 

**  No,  Tom,"  said  I,  advancing ;  **  I  trust  for  better 
fortune.  You  are  claimed  as  a  deserter  from  the 
ImmortaliteP 

Tom  stared,  lifted  the  hair  from  his  forehead,  and 
threw  himself  into  my  arms :  but  we  had  no  time  for  a 
display  of  feelings.  We  hurried  Tom  away  from  the 
barracks ;  again  I  put  the  whole  party  into  chaises,  and 
we  soon  arrived  at  Chatham,  where  we  embarked  on 
board  of  the  frigate.  Tom  was  given  into  the  charge  of 
the  master-at-arms,  as  a  deserter,  and  a  letter  was  written 
by  Captain  Maclean,  demanding  a  court  -  martial  on 
him. 

"What  will  be  the  result.?"  inquired  I  of  the  first 
lieutenant. 


422  Jacob  Faithful 

"The  captain  says,  little  or  nothing,  as  he  was  pressed 
as  an  apprentice,  which  is  contrary  to  act  of  parliament." 

I  went  down  to  cheer  Tom  with  this  intelligence,  and, 
taking  my  leave,  set  off  for  London  with  a  light  heart. 
Still  I  thought  it  better  not  to  communicate  this  good 
news  until  assurance  was  made  doubly  sure.  I  hastened 
to  Mr  Drummond's,  and  detailed  to  them  all  which  had 
passed.  The  next  day  Mr  Wharncliffe  went  with  me 
to  the  Admiralty,  where  I  had  the  happiness  to  find  that 
all  was  legal,  and  that  Tom  could  only  be  tried  for  his 
desertion  from  a  man-of-war ;  and  that,  if  he  could  prove 
that  he  was  an  apprentice,  he  would,  in  all  probability,  be 
acquitted.  The  court-martial  was  summoned  three  days 
after  the  letter  had  been  received  by  the  Admiralty.  I 
hastened  down  to  Chatham  to  be  present.  It  was  very 
short :  the  desertion  was  proved,  and  Tom  was  called 
upon  for  his  defence.  He  produced  his  papers,  and 
proved  that  he  was  pressed  before  his  time  had  expired. 
The  court  was  cleared  for  a  few  minutes,  and  then  re- 
opened. Tom  was  acquitted  on  the  ground  of  illegal 
detention,  contrary  to  act  of  parliament,  and  he  was  free. 
I  returned  my  thanks  to  Captain  Maclean  and  the  officers 
for  their  kindness,  and  left  the  ship  with  Tom  in  the 
cutter,  ordered  for  me  by  the  first  lieutenant.  My  heart 
swelled  with  gratitude  at  the  happy  result.  Tom  was 
silent,  but  his  feelings  I  could  well  analyse.  I  gave  to 
the  men  of  the  boat  five  guineas  to  drink  Tom's  health, 
and,  hastening  to  the  inn,  ordered  the  carriage,  and  with 
Tom,  who  was  a  precious  deposit,  for  upon  his  welfare 
depended  the  happiness  of  so  many,  I  hurried  to  London 
as  fast  as  I  could,  stopped  at  the  Drummonds  to  com- 
municate the  happy  intelligence,  and  then  proceeded  to 
my  own  house,  where  we  slept.  The  next  morning  I 
dressed  Tom  in  some  of  my  clothes,  and  we  embarked 
in  the  wherry. 

"  Now,  Tom,"  said  I,  "  you  must  keep  in  the  back- 
ground at  first,  while  I  prepare  them.  Where  shall  we 
go  first  ? " 


Jacob  Faithful  423 

"  Oh  !  to  my  mother,"  replied  Tom. 

"We  passed  through  Putney  Bridge,  and  Tom's  bosom 
heaved  as  he  looked  towards  the  residence  of  Mary.  His 
heart  was  there,  poor  fellow  !  and  he  longed  to  have 
flown  to  the  poor  girl,  and  have  dried  her  tears ;  but  his 
first  duty  was  to  his  parents. 

We  soon  arrived  abreast  of  the  residence  of  the  old 
couple,  and  I  desired  Tom  to  pull  in,  but  not  turn  his 
head  round,  lest  they  should  see  him  before  I  had  pre- 
pared them  j  for  too  much  joy  will  kill  as  well  as  grief. 
Old  Tom  was  not  at  his  work,  and  all  was  quiet.  I 
landed  and  went  to  the  house,  opened  the  door,  and 
found  them  both  sitting  by  the  kitchen  fire  in  silence, 
apparently  occupied  in  watching  the  smoke  as  it  ascended 
up  the  spacious  chimney. 

"  Good  morning  to  you  both,"  said  I ;  "  how  do  you 
find  yourself,  Mrs  Beazeley  .'' " 

**  Ah !  deary  me ! "  replied  the  old  woman,  putting 
her  apron  up  to  her  eyes. 

**  Sit  down,  Jacob,  sit  down,"  said  old  Tom  ;  *'  we  can 
talk  of  him  now." 

"  Yes,  now  that  he's  in  heaven,  poor  fellow ! "  inter- 
posed the  old  woman. 

"  Tell  me,  Jacob,"  said  old  Tom,  with  a  quivering  lip, 
"  did  you  see  the  last  of  him  ?  Tell  me  all  about  it. 
How  did  he  look .''  How  did  he  behave  ?  Was  he  soon 
out  of  his  pain  ?     And — Jacob — where  is  he  buried  ? " 

"Yes,  yesj"  sobbed  Mrs  Beazeley;  "tell  me  where 
is  the  body  of  my  poor  child." 

"  Can  you  bear  to  talk  about  him  ? "  said  I. 

"  Yes,  yes  j  we  can't  talk  too  much  :  it  does  us  good," 
replied  she.  "We  have  done  nothing  but  talk  about 
him  since  we  left  him." 

"  And  shall,  till  we  sink  down  into  our  own  graves," 
said  old  Tom,  "  which  won't  be  long.  I've  nothing  to 
wish  for  now,  and  I'll  never  sing  again,  that's  sartain. 
We  sha'n't  last  long,  either  of  us.  As  for  me,"  continued 
the  old  man  with  a  melancholy  smile,  looking  down  at 


424  Jacob  Faithful 

his  stumps,  "I  may  well  say  that  Fve  two  feet  in  the 
grave  already.     But  come,  Jacob,  tell  us  all  about  him." 

"I  will,"  replied  I  j  "and  my  dear  Mrs  Beazeley,  you 
must  prepare  yourself  for  different  tidings  than  what 
you  expect.     Tom  is  not  yet  shot." 

**  Not  dead  !  "  shrieked  the  old  woman. 

"  Not  yet,  Jacob  ;  "  cried  old  Tom,  seizing  me  by  the 
arm,  and  squeezing  it  with  the  force  of  a  vice,  as  he 
looked  me  earnestly  in  the  face. 

"  He  lives :  and  I  am  in  hopes  he  will  be  pardoned.*' 

Mrs  Beazeley  sprang  from  her  chair  and  seized  me  by 
the  other  arm. 

"  I  see — I  see  by  your  face.  Yes,  Jacob,  he  is  pardoned ; 
and  we  shall  have  our  Tom  again." 

**  You  are  right,  Mrs  Beazeley ;  he  is  pardoned,  and 
will  soon  be  here." 

The  old  couple  sank  down  on  their  knees  beside  me. 
I  left  them,  and  beckoned  from  the  door  to  Tom,  who 
flew  up,  and  in  a  moment  was  in  their  armsc  I  assisted 
him  to  put  his  mother  into  her  chair,  and  then  went  out 
to  recover  myself  from  the  agitating  scene.  I  remained 
about  an  hour  outside,  and  then  returned.  The  old 
couple  seized  me  by  the  hands,  and  invoked  blessings 
on  my  head. 

*'  You  must  now  part  with  Tom  a  little  while,"  said  I ; 
"  there  are  others  to  make  happy  besides  yourselves." 

"  Very  true,"  replied  old  Tom  j  "  go,  my  lad,  and 
comfort  her.     Come,  missus,  we  mustn't  forget  others." 

*'  Oh,  no.  Go,  Tom  ;  go  and  tell  her  that  I  don't  care 
how  soon  she  is  my  daughter." 

Tom  embraced  his  mother  and  followed  me  to  the 
boat :  we  pulled  up  against  the  tide,  and  were  soon  at 
Putney. 

"  Tom,  you  had  better  stay  in  the  boat.  I  will  either 
come  or  send  for  you." 

It  was  very  unwillingly  that  Tom  consented,  but  I 
over-ruled  his  entreaties,  and  he  remained.  I  walked  to 
Mary's   house   and   entered.     She   was   up   in  the   little 


Jacob  Faithful  425 

parlour,  dressed  in  deep  mourning  5  when  I  entered  she 
was  looking  out  upon  the  river  -,  she  turned  her  head, 
and  perceiving  me,  rose  to  meet  me. 

'*  You  do  not  come  to  upbraid  me,  Jacob,  I  am  sure," 
said  she,  in  a  melancholy  voice ;  "  you  are  too  kind-hearted 
for  that." 

"  No,  no,  Mary ;  I  am  come  to  comfort  you,  if  possible." 

"That  is  not  possible.  Look  at  me,  Jacob.  Is  there 
not  a  worm — a  canker — that  gnaws  within  ? " 

The  hollow  cheek  and  wild  flaring  eye,  once  so  beautiful, 
but  too  plainly  told  the  truth. 

"Mary,"  said  I,  *'  sit  down;  you  know  what  the  Bible 
says — *  It  is  good  for  us  to  be  afflicted.' " 

"  Yes,  yes,"  sobbed  Mary,  "  I  deserve  all  I  suffer  ;  and 
I  bow  in  humility.  But  am  I  not  too  much  punished, 
Jacob  .''  Not  that  I  would  repine  :  but  is  it  not  too  much 
for  me  to  bear,  when  I  think  that  I  am  the  destroyer  of  one 
who  loved  me  so  ?  " 

"  You  have  not  been  the  destroyer,  Mary." 

"  Yes,  yes  ;  my  heart  tells  me  that  I  have." 

"  But  I  tell  you  that  you  have  not.  Say,  Mary,  dreadful 
as  the  punishment  has  been,  would  you  not  kiss  the  rod 
with  thankfulness,  if  it  cured  you  of  your  unfortunate  dis- 
position, and  prepared  you  to  make  a  good  wife  ?  " 

"  That  it  has  cured  me,  Jacob,  I  can  safely  assert  j  but 
it  has  also  killed  me  as  well  as  him.  But  I  wish  not  to 
live :  and  I  trust,  in  a  few  short  months,  to  repose  by  his 
side." 

"  I  hope  you  will  have  your  wish,  Mary,  very  soon,  but 
not  in  death." 

"  Merciful  heavens  !  what  do  you  mean,  Jacob  ?  " 

"I  said  you  were  not  the  destroyer  of  poor  Tom — you 
have  not  been,  he  has  not  yet  suffered ;  there  was  an  in- 
formality, which  has  induced  them  to  revise  the  sentence." 

"  Jacob,"  replied  Mary,  "  it  is  cruelty  to  raise  my  hopes 
only  to  crush  them  again.  If  not  yet  dead,  he  is  still  to 
die.  I  wish  you  had  not  told  me  so,"  continued  she,  burst- 
ing into  tears  j  "  what  a  state  of  agony  and  suspense  must 


426  Jacob  Faithful 

he  have  been  in  all  this  time,  and  I — I  have  caused  his 
sufferings  !  I  trusted  he  had  long  been  released  from  this 
cruel,  heartless  world." 

The  flood  of  tears  which  followed,  assured  me  that  I 
could  safely  impart  the  glad  intelligence.  *'  Mary,  Mary, 
listen  to  me." 

"  Leave  me,  leave  me,"  sobbed  Mary,  waving  her  hand. 

"  No,  Mary,  not  until  I  tell  you  that  Tom  is  not  only 
alive,  but — pardoned." 

''Pardoned  !  "  shrieked  Mary. 

*'  Yes,  pardoned,  Mary, — free,  Mary, — and  in  a  few 
minutes  will  be  in  your  arms." 

Mary  dropped  on  her  knees,  raised  her  hands  and  eyes 
to  heaven,  and  then  fell  into  a  state  of  insensibility.  Tom, 
who  had  followed  me,  and  remained  near  the  house,  had 
heard  the  shriek,  and  could  no  longer  restrain  himself ;  he 
flew  into  the  room  as  Mary  fell,  and  I  put  her  into  his 
arms.  At  the  first  signs  of  returning  sensibility  I  left  them 
together,  and  went  to  find  old  Stapleton,  to  whom  I  was 
more  brief  in  my  communication.  Stapleton  continued  to 
smoke  his  pipe  during  my  narrative. 

"  Glad  of  it,  glad  of  it,"  said  he,  when  I  finished.  "  I 
were  just  thinking  how  all  these  senses  brought  us  into 
trouble,  more  than  all,  that  sense  of  love :  got  me  into 
trouble,  and  made  me  kill  a  man, — got  my  poor  wife  into 
trouble,  and  drowned  her, — and  now  almost  shot  Tom,  and 
killed  Mary.  Had  too  much  of  human  natur  lately, — 
nothing  but  moist  eyes  and  empty  pipes.  Met  that  sergeant 
yesterday,  had  a  turn  up :  Tom  settled  one  eye,  and,  old 
as  I  am,  I've  settled  the  other  for  a  time.  He's  in  bed  for 
a  fortnight, — couldn't  help  it, — human  natur." 

I  took  leave  of  Stapleton,  and  calling  in  upon  Tom  and 
Mary,  shaking  hands  with  the  one,  and  kissing  the  other, 
I  despatched  a  letter  to  the  Domine,  acquainting  him  with 
what  had  passed,  and  then  hastened  to  the  Drummonds  and 
imparted  the  happy  results  of  my  morning's  work  to  Sarah 
and  her  mother. 

"  And  now,  Sarah,  having  so  successfully  arranged  the 


Jacob  Faithful  427 

affairs  of  other  people,  I  should  like  to  plead  in  my  own 
behalf.  I  think  that  after  having  been  deprived  almost 
wholly  of  your  dear  company  for  a  month,  I  deserve  to  be 
rewarded." 

"  You  do,  indeed,  Jacob,"  said  Mrs  Drummond,  '*  and 
I  am  sure  that  Sarah  thinks  so  too,  if  she  will  but  acknow- 
ledge it." 

"  I  do  acknowledge  it,  mamma  ;  but  what  is  this  reward 
to  be?" 

"  That  you  will  allow  your  father  and  mother  to  arrange 
an  early  day  for  our  nuptials,  and  also  allow  Tom  and  Mary 
to  be  united  at  the  same  altar." 

"  Mamma,  have  I  not  always  been  a  dutiful  daughter  ?  " 

*'  Yes,  my  love,  you  have." 

**  Then  I  shall  do  as  I  am  bidden  by  my  parents,  Jacob  ; 
it  will  be  probably  the  last  command  I  receive  from  them, 
and  I  shall  obey  it ;  will  that  please  you,  dear  Jacob  ? " 

That  evening  the  day  was  fixed,  and  now  I  must  not 
weary  the  reader  with  a  description  of  my  feelings,  or  of 
my  happiness  in  the  preparations  for  the  ceremony.  Sarah 
and  I,  Mary  and  Tom,  were  united  on  the  same  day,  and 
there  was  nothing  to  cloud  our  happiness.  Tom  took 
up  his  abode  with  his  father  and  mother ;  and  Mary, 
radiant  with  happiness,  even  more  beautiful  than  ever, 
has  settled  down  into  an  excellent,  doting  wife.  For 
Sarah  I  hardly  need  say  the  same ;  she  was  my  friend 
from  childhood,  she  is  now  all  that  a  man  could  hope  and 
wish  for.  We  have  been  married  several  years,  and  are 
blessed  with  a  numerous  family, 

I  am  now  almost  at  a  conclusion.  I  have  only  to 
acquaint  the  reader  with  a  few  particulars  relative  to  my 
early  friends.  Stapleton  is  still  alive,  and  is  wedded 
to  his  pipe,  which,  with  him,  although  the  taste  for 
tobacco  has  been  considered  as  an  acquired  one,  may  truly 
be  asserted  to  be  human  nature.  He  has  two  wherries 
with  apprentices,  and  from  them  gains  a  good  livelihood, 
without  working  himself.  He  says  that  the  boys  are 
not  so  honest  as  I  was,  and  cheat  him  not  a  little  j  but  he 


428  Jacob  Faithful 

consoles  himself  by  asserting  that  it  is  nothing  but  human 
natur.  Old  Tom  is  also  strong  and  hearty,  and  says  that 
he  don't  intend  to  follow  his  legs  for  some  time  yet.  His 
dame,  he  says,  is  peaking,  but  Mary  requires  no  assistance. 
Old  Tom  has  left  off  mending  boats,  his  sign  is  taken 
down,  for  he  is  now  comfortable.  When  Tom  married, 
I  asked  him  what  he  wished  to  do :  he  requested  me  to 
lend  him  money  to  purchase  a  lighter.  I  made  him  a 
present  of  a  new  one,  just  launched  by  Mr  Drummond*s 
firm.  But  old  Stapleton  made  over  to  him  the  ;^200  left 
to  him  by  Mr  Turnbull,  and  his  mother  brought  out  an 
equal  sum  from  her  hoards.  This  enabled  Tom  to  purchase 
another  lighter,  and  now  he  has  six  or  seven,  I  forget 
which ;  at  all  events,  he  is  well  off,  and  adding  to  his 
wealth  every  year»  They  talked  of  removing  to  a  better 
house,  but  the  old  couple  wish  to  remain.  Old  Tom, 
especially,  has  built  an  arbour  where  the  old  boat  stood, 
and  sits  there  carolling  his  songs,  and  watching  the  craft 
as  they  go  up  and  down  the  river. 

Mr  and  Mrs  Wharncliffe  still  continue  my  neighbours 
and  dearest  friends.  Mrs  Turnbull  died  a  few  months 
back,  and  I  am  now  in  possession  of  the  whole  property. 
My  father  and  mother-in-law  are  well  and  happy.  Mr 
Drummond  will  retire  from  business  as  soon  as  he  can 
wind  up  his  multifarious  concerns.  I  have  but  one  more 
to  speak  of — the  old  Domine.  It  is  now  two  years  since 
I  closed  the  eyes  of  this  worthy  man.  As  he  increased 
in  years  so  did  he  in  his  abstraction  of  mind,  and  the 
governors  of  the  charity  thought  it  necessary  to  super- 
annuate him  with  a  pension.  It  was  a  heavy  blow  to  the 
old  man,  who  asserted  his  capabilities  to  continue  to 
instruct;  but  people  thought  otherwise,  and  he  accepted 
my  offer  to  take  up  his  future  residence  with  us,  upon  the 
understanding  that  it  was  necessary  that  our  children, 
the  eldest  of  whom,  at  that  time,  was  but  four  years  old, 
should  be  instructed  in  Latin  and  Greek.  He  removed 
to  us  with  all  his  books,  &c.,  not  forgetting  the  formidable 
birch :  but  as  the  children  would  not  take  to  the  Latin 


Jacob  Faithful  429 

of  their  own  accord,  and  Mrs  Faithful  would  not  allow 
the  rod  to  be  made  use  of,  the  Domine's  occupation  was 
gone.  Still,  such  was  the  force  of  habit,  that  he  never 
went  without  the  Latin  grammar  in  his  pocket,  and  I  have 
often  watched  him  sitting  down  in  the  poultry-yard, 
fancying,  I  presume,  that  he  was  in  his  school.  There 
would  he  decline,  construe,  and  conjugate  aloud,  his  only 
witnesses  being  the  poultry,  who  would  now  and  then 
raise  a  gobble,  gobble,  gobble,  while  the  ducks  with  their 
quackf  quacky  quack,  were  still  more  impertinent  in  their 
replies.  A  sketch  of  him,  in  this  position,  has  been 
taken  by  Sarah,  and  now  hangs  over  the  mantel-piece 
of  my  study,  between  two  of  Mr  Turnbull's  drawings, 
one  of  an  iceberg  on  the  17th  of  August,  '78,  and  the  other 
showing  the  dangerous  position  of  the  Came'/ whaler,  jammed 
between  the  floe  of  ice,  in  latitude ,  and  longitude 

Reader,  I  have  now  finished  my  narrative.  There  are 
two  morals,  I  trust,  to  be  drawn  from  the  events  of  my 
life,  one  of  which  is,  that  in  society  we  naturally  depend 
upon  each  other  for  support,  and  that  he  who  would 
assert  his  independence  throws  himself  out  of  the  current 
which  bears  to  advancement : — the  other  is,  that  with  the 
advantages  of  good  education,  and  good  principle,  although 
it  cannot  be  expected  that  every  one  will  be  so  fortunate 
as  I  have  been,  still  there  is  every  reasonable  hope,  and 
every  right  to  expect,  that  we  shall  do  well  in  this  world. 
Thrown  up,  as  the  Domine  expressed  himself,  as  a  tangled 
weed  from  the  river,  you  have  seen  the  orphan  and  charity- 
boy  rise  to  wealth  and  consideration  ;  you  have  seen  how 
he  who  was  friendless  secured  to  himself  the  warmest 
friends  ;  he  who  required  everything  from  others  became 
in  a  situation  to  protect  and  assist  in  return ;  he  who  could 
not  call  one  individual  his  relation,  united  to  the  object  of 
his  attachment,  and  blessed  with  a  numerous  family ;  and 
to  amass  all  these  advantages  and  this  sum  of  happiness, 
the  only  capital  with  which  he  embarked  was  a  good  educa- 
tion and  good  principles. 

Reader,  farewell  1 

THE    END. 


PRINTED  BV 

TURNBULL   AND   SPEARS 

EDINBURGH 


